Shadow

Leaving Brynjolf was the hardest thing I had ever done. Now, I was reforging the Amulet of Kings. The five shards were lying innocently on the ground before me, citizens gathering to watch the stranger reform the amulet. Taking a deep breath, I exhaled pure dragon fire.

With a white flash, the amulet clattered to the ground, whole and set in a base of gold. It was my destiny, my legacy. Nobody in the entirety of Tamriel apart from Brynjolf and Karth knew that I was ruling through a false emperor. One that I had assassinated with the help of Avequa Sil.

Silence.

Suddenly, an Imperial man burst out of the crowd, sword raised. I could recognise those robes anywhere, because I had a daedric artefact that belonged to this group. The Mythic Dawn assassin charged, and met his end with an arrow through his heart. Stooping, I picked up the glowing amulet and turned it in my hands.

I missed Brynjolf, I really did... but I had to forget about him and take my place on the throne. If Alduin couldn't kill me, neither could the Mythic Dawn. Some of the townspeople shrieked as assassins held daggers to their throats, I was surrounded.

'Come at me.' I snarled, slinging my bow onto my back and pulling out three throwing knives.

Stupidly, the assassins obliged to my request and most of them were still dead as I smoothly pulled dagger after dagger from hidden places on my armour, until I had killed over half of them and had run out of knives. I sensed the air currents changing behind me as an assassin tried to creep up on me, spinning, I lopped his head off before slicing another in half with my Stalhrim swords.

Apparently I was more resilient than other rulers, because as the entire cult charged towards me, I led them out of the city. After leading the cult up to the top of a gigantic cliff, I managed to bunch them all together in front of me. Without second thought, I shouted them off the edge of the cliff, those nearest to me disintegrated as soon as the force of my shout touched them.

***

For the last year, I had been a disappointment to the royal court. They all knew I was stealing from the citizens, but had no proof, and knew not the extent of my wrath. Every day, I had a sort of ritual where I would visit the Thieves Guild headquarters, it was a kind of tribute to Brynjolf, because I had met the newest recruit.

The new recruit reminded me of myself, he was a young Breton who had just joined up with the guild but was an awful thief. He had all of the potential of an Elsweri master thief, but none of the proper training. We had met on my first visit as Empress, he was quite shy, but was a true jokester. It was almost like Cicero and Brynjolf had merged to create Sirius.

Sirius had striking green eyes and soft blonde hair that occasionally flopped over one eye. He had escaped from a necromancer, and had managed to pickpocket the key from the bandit guarding him in order to escape. The guild had seen his potential when he was told to steal from the Empress' personal quarters and supposedly succeeded... after I tossed him a flawless diamond as he left empty handed.

'Sirius! Long time no see.' I purred, punching his shoulder lightly.

'Indeed. How can I be of service?' Replied my friend.

'I've heard that the guild wants to kick you out.'

'Yes... are you here to punish me?'

'No! Of course not! I want you to stay, you have so much hidden potential, you just need to unlock it.'

'How can you see if I've got potential or not? You're the Dragonborn, and Empress. What would you know?' He argued.

'Sirius, you're talking to Shadow. Last Master Elsweri Thief in Tamriel and best thief in Skyrim and all surrounding areas, direct descendant of Lucien Lechance and of the Grey Fox.' I pointed out.

'You're a thief?'

'How did you think I caught you so quickly? That diamond was nothing compared to other loot I've stolen. I can teach you the ways of the Elsweri thief, something no man has ever learned for it is treason to teach anyone but fellow Khajiiti Thieves.'

'Would you not be cursed by your gods?'

'I... yes. But I believe that Nocturnal guides my path, Talos will preserve me, for I am related to him by blood.' I replied, confident that they would help me if I made revolutionary changes in the history of Thieves.

And so Sirius' training began.

'If you lean back, you can loose your balance. Keep it centred and glide.' I said, correcting his posture.

'Good. Now you're going to try and sneak past an alert guard. He won't do anything but announce your presence.'

Sirius completed the task swiftly and easily. After two weeks of nonstop training and sleep deprivation, I had trained Sirius to be a Master Elsweri Thief. I knew that my Khajiiti gods were angered, but thanks to Nocturnal... the Shadows really did hide me. Now it was time to request a job from the guild.

'Guildmaster, I request an item stolen for me.'

'Anything, sweet Empress. Anything under the sun... for a price.'

I hated the new guildmaster. He was much too flirtatious with me, always trying to get himself even physical contact. I had been plotting his death for the past few weeks, and this was my chance. If he requested a night alone with me, I would have to be cautious. No way in hell was I getting pregnant. No. Just no.

'Name your price.'

'A night alone together.' He demanded. Typical.

'So be it. The item I wish to be stolen, is the Grey Cowl of Nocturnal. It's location used to be the resting place of Hazelark Septim, but now it resides with a thief I believe you know very well.'

'Who might this be, my dove?' Ugh. Sickening.

'Ever heard of Mercer Frey?'