THE FARAWAY LANDS OF OZ - Book One

Part Four, Chapter Twenty-One: The Dragonborn

Based on the Elder's Scrolls© game-series by Bethesda Inc.©

EVANORA

I had not thought that I could absorb that much knowledge from merely one book and in merely one night. For the next five couple of days, I spent my time with my nose stuck in files, learning the local magic and spending a good deal of the emperor's funds to finance the spell tomes that helped me regain at least part of my abilities.
Without it, I was helpless and as I was slowly finding out from the books and the talk of the city, this country was more dangerous than you would guess. Not like Albion. Here, things attack you around every second corner.
I had actually found out quite a lot about the history and culture and everything I needed to know in current times. In Tamriel, time measuring was a little different than the one of Earth and therefore of Oz.
Here, it was counted in eras and the years within. A new era's beginning is marked with one specific global achievement in the previous one.
Now, we are in 4E 127 and the previous one ended with the closing of the gates to Oblivion in 3E 182. Oblivion is one of the nine circles of hell where some of the most vile demon lords dwell, including the Daedric Princes.
Now, the people live happily in their more or less peaceful time. I have also found out that there are currently three of these Elder's Scroll around Tamriel but all of their whereabouts are still unknown to me. Once I find one, it means straight back to Oz.
In addition to my work, to find a way home, I helped the emperor and his grand army with all kinds of commissions. Help out a battalion in defending something, help out some soldiers with recon or help another squad with capturing fugitives at the border of Skyrim.
It was one of those days where I was urged to the Pale Pass for preventing another load of fugitives to escape Skyrim's laws.
Thankfully, now that I was able to cast spells – even beyond my usual abilities – I didn't need to ride everywhere, which would have taken me days at least. Throw a magically created crystal on the ground and you are where you want to be within seconds.
Angus was returned to Iris and Faye immediately, alongside a caravan of imperial soldiers that carried resources to grow their farm and enough money to hire the urgently needed staff. That was the very least they deserved from me.
I got to the Pale Pass in no time and almost immediately after I had been summoned there. On-site, a group of imperial soldiers was already waiting for me. They were mostly humans with occasional and brawny orcs as well as silent and deadly Khajit between their ranks.
"Hello, you must be Evanora. I hear soldiers talk in great tones about your successes for the imperial army," A man with shoulder-long, brown hair and deep chestnut eyes walked over to greet me. He did not have the full, heavy, steel attire of armor but rather a mix of both the leather and cloth apparel of new recruits and some chainmail parts that offered a bit more protection.
Although I was officially part of the Grand Imperial Army as a consultant – just like father had been – I had not taken a liking in wearing armor. Instead, I settled with a silver and emerald tiara that kept my hair back. I had let two streaks of hair on each side loose above it and tied the rest into a tight ponytail.
I had gone with traditional mage robes with some slight tweaks to accommodate my sense of fashion and a dark blue cloak. Additionally, thick, black leather boots to withstand the rough roads and battlefields that I often walked.
Finally, a pair of leather gloves to protect me from my own spellcasting. Here, all magic comes with a price and some of the spells I used inflicted me wounds all over.
"Yes, I am. Who may you be and who is our objective today?"
The man looked me up and down, as if he was questioning my abilities to help the troops out. I had already noticed how a large percentage of humans around here are either skeptical or dismissive of other races and almost as dismissive towards magicians. Despite humans not being the original population of Tamriel.
"My name is Hadvar and we have received intelligence that Ulfric Stormcloak himself is going to try and flee Skyrim, along with his most trusted soldiers. They will not expect us. At least not the amount of people to greet them. Even the Thalmor have offered their assistance."
I didn't know that Elenwen would bother with assisting the Empire on the battlefield. The Thalmor were an organization of High Elves that funded most military operations of the Empire although not engaging in battle themselves. Their head was the female High Elve Elenwen who had the typical golden skin, hair and eyes and wore the Thalmor mage's robes of night-sky black.
"Interesting... Then the war will be over soon?"
"Yes. Once we take our prisoners to Helgen and execute them, the rebellion will fall with Ulfric. General Tullius himself is waiting there, alongside Elenwen."
Now that meant importance! General Tullius was one of the four generals of the Empire and was stationed here to oversee the civil war and use his hardened experience on the battlefield against the Stormcloaks. I had met him just once, right before him being dispatched to Skyrim. He was an elderly man that strongly reminded of Julius Caesar. From appearance to behavior, almost everything was identical.
"Splendid; then I'd say we hide and wait for Ulfric and his men to pass. We shall stop anyone who tries to leave here; there is too much at stake if your intelligence is correct."
Hadvar agreed and passed the information on to his men. Then, we found ourselves a comfortable bush each and began to kneel there until we could see the rebels heading this way. And we waited. It felt like ages that we were kneeling in the bushes and my knees were already getting sore and my legs exhausted. Yet the sun had not moved too much when I checked the sky. There were no watches and clocks around Tamriel; the sun was my only orientation for time.