The Dragonborn's Apprentice

Wah Krii Aan Junaar

"So, the prodigal murderer returns!" Festus greeted me as I entered the now unfamiliar sanctuary. After many nights with Cicero in the Dawnstar sanctuary, it was beginning to feel like home. These stony walls and leaky ceilings did not hold the same luster they did when Cicero was around. I didn't know if it was his ridiculous motley or his ever-showing, unnervingly strait teeth, but he seemed to brighten every room he was in. He was the sunshine in a windowless room. "And the Gourmet?"

"Dead."

"So, I gathered," he sneered, sifting through some notes. "It seems a certain Orc has disappeared. Which means you not only killed the Gourmet but disposed of the body as well. You've got the Writ of Passage too, I see. Splendid, splendid... Ah, and word has come in from Markarth that the keep's cook has met an untimely demise. You performed your duties to the letter.

"All I've ever wanted to do is serve this Sanctuary." It was becoming increasingly difficult to hide my discontent with the Dark Brotherhood. I knew what the future held, did Festus?

"Hmph. I was wrong about you. I see that now. Maybe we all were." Did he know? "Now, you better get a move on and see Astrid. It's time! Time for the final stage of this grand and glorious operation!"

"So, it's done. You've killed the Gourmet. And now Titus Mede II is as good as dead." Astrid's voice once again dripped with an excitement that could not only be attributed to the impending death of the emperor, but also the balance of power that was sure to come after I was taken care of.

"So, it's time? We're ready to assassinate the Emperor?"

"Oh yes. And I've decided you will have the honor." How gracious... I could and would not force a smile. A sneer spread across her face. "Hmph. Look at you. So calm. So confident. I do believe you were born for this task. So, let's begin."

...

I went through the plan time and time again in my head. Approach the Commander, present the Writ of Passage, make a meal worth dying for, slip in the deadly Jarrin Root, and run like the Void. Instead of being full of pep and glee at the idea of the Emperor falling to my hand, Cicero was deadly serious. This was it. This was the last task Astrid needed from me. Then she would hand me over to the Dragonborn, no questions asked.

"Stop right there. The tower is off limits until further notice." Commander Maro stood in front of the tower door, all pride and strength. Never in a million years would you assume that his son had been murdered and found to be the leader of an assassination attempt against the emperor. I pulled the Writ of Passage out of the small pack I had. I was travelling light. The only thing I carried was the small parchment guaranteeing my false identity, one of my ebony daggers in case things went south, and a small chef's hat, which I had removed and placed on my head at that moment for authentication. "What's this now? Order of his eminence... possessor of these papers... the Gourmet!" He read aloud. "By Azura. The Gourmet! I... I'm sorry! I didn't realize! We had no idea when to expect you, you understand. Your clothes of course... I should have realized." He must have been more thrown off his guard than I had previously thought. I only wore a tunic and this silly cap. "But please, don't let me keep you. Proceed to the kitchens straight away. Gianna, the castle chef, has been eagerly awaiting your arrival."

I made my way through the castle and to the kitchens, making note of any doors or windows that would be helpful if things took a turn for the worst. I wondered momentarily how Commander Maro didn't recognize me, but the thought faded as I waltzed into the kitchen.

"Not another delivery. I told you people, our stocks are fine. Now put whatever you have over there, then get out!" The Imperial woman barked, not even looking up from her pot.

"You misunderstand. For I am the Gourmet." If I weren't about to murder the emperor, this entire situation might have seemed silly. I stifled a giggle.

"The Gourmet? Oh! Finally! When I heard the Gourmet was being brought in to cook for the Emperor, I could hardly believe it. It's just..." she trailed off, switching her eyes back and forth between my facial and body features, unsure of what to make of them.

"Yes?"

"Well, I don't mean to seem disappointed, but I just never figured the Gourmet was," she paused, choosing her words carefully. "an Imperial. I had dreamed of something more exotic, maybe..."

"Silence!" That was enough of that. "Let us begin."

"Oh! Yes, but of course." She cleared her throat. "The Emperor has requested your signature dish -- the Potage le Magnifique. I've taken the liberty of getting it started. But the cookbook only says so much, and everyone makes the Potage differently. I would be honored if we could make it the Gourmet's special way. The base broth is already boiled. We can get started right now. So... Which ingredient should I add next?" I quickly skimmed the room for different things to add. It had been quite a while since I had to prepare a proper meal. Even then, Sanguine was simply a meat and potatoes man.

"Carrots," I muttered, my eyes finding the first vegetable in the room.

"Carrots? Really? Okay. What next?" She seemed skeptical. Did most stews not have carrots? My eyes darted from one thing to the next trying to form a coherent thought.

"A sweetroll," my mouth said before my brain could follow.

"Oh... how decadent. I never would have guessed it. What next?" Gianna threw the pastry into the pot with no hesitation. I was surprised. I could imagine Cicero's giddy laugh in my mind and smirked.

"We shall now add a giant's toe!" I spoke with confidence now, the spirit of Cicero running through my veins like a ghost.

"A... giant's toe? You're...sure about that?"

"I said a giant's toe! Do not question the Gourmet!"

"Of course! I... I'm sorry. One giant's toe." She reluctantly stirred in a whole giant's toe. "There. What next?" My last ingredients were for the emperor.

"You must now add a splash of mead and there is one final ingredient. Here, add this." I held out the deadly Jarrin Root.

"Ah, of course. I suspected as much. Oh? What is this, some kind of herb? Are you sure? The Potage tastes perfect as it is. Any other ingredient might..."

"Now, now, Gianna. Who's the Gourmet here?"

"Heh, I'm sorry. Of course. It's your most famous recipe, after all. All right then, your secret ingredient's been added. And I may say so it has been an honor, getting a chance to prepare a meal with, well the best chef in the entire Empire. I'll carry the stew pot and lead the way up to the dining room. I'm sure the Emperor and his guests are dying to meet you!"

"I'm sure."

"Here we are," Gianna spoke softly as we approached the dining room. The emperor could be heard chatting with the noblemen, not a care in all Tamriel. "Gods, I'm nervous. We'll go in in just a moment. Please, I'll serve. You just stand there and be amazing."

"Aha! Here we are. Honored guests, I present to you the Gourmet!" The emperor sat at the head of the table, looking mighty as ever. I positioned myself at the quickest exit. My heart started to pound. In mere moments, the emperor would be dead, my contract would be complete, and I would be running back to the Dawnstar sanctuary as fast as I could. As much as Cicero begged me to let him wait for me outside of Solitude, it was far too risky. Not even Shadowmere could be placed by my escape route. The journey must be made on foot and in the shadows. "Ah, the Potage le Magnifique. So delicious. My friends, as Emperor, I of course reserve the right of first taste." The noblemen laughed, but I did not. I've been to dinner with Sanguine for every Jarl in every hold, and even they had someone taste their food first to prevent possible poisonings. An overwhelming fear came upon me. This was a set up. Maro recognized me and knew why I was there. And worse yet, this man was not the emperor.

I broke into a sprint. I could just barely hear the false emperor's praise before he slumped to the ground.

"By the gods!" A guard shouted. 'The Gourmet and the chef have poisoned the Emperor! Get them!" Gianna cried in protest as they slit her throat.