Stef chuckled lightly at Sovor's quip to the guards, but as she peered from behind him, her smile froze slightly in confusion. 

[i]"These aren't the regular guards..."[/i] She thought to herself, frowning ever so slightly. With the three unfamiliar guards was stood with one of the usual ones, in the common steel armour... and a strange man in some seriously rich clothes. He looked old, but not just in his face - his eyes, from what she could see of them, had a heaviness about them. Like he'd just come to a terrible conclusion.

Despite Stef and Sovor's nonchalence, they swiftly backed away as the lead woman threatened death upon entering. Back pressing against the back wall, Stef watched curiously as the four walked into the cell, and their torchlight illuminated the dank cell.

Now,s he could see her new aquaintances properly. She could see Sovor's more-than-interesting tattoos, and his earrings glinting in the light. She could properly see the armour of the soldiers - and [i]phew[/i], what armour it was. Nothing like she'd ever seen before.

And as the old man approached with his three guards, she saw the jewel hanging from his neck, and froze.

Any thief worth their mettle knew what that jewel was. There was no other jewel like it - the most unique and lusted after property of Tamriel that a thief would love to get their hands on.

And if it was this jewel that she was thinking of - and it most certainly was - that meant that it's wearer was... was the...

[color=darkkhaki][i]"Let's go! We're not out of this yet."[/i][/color] The woman barked, and while one of the guards had his blade drawn, bearing down on herself and Sovor, he was stopped as the elderly man stepped forward - staring at the two of them as if he were a blind man seeing light for the first time.

The woman paused and looked at him hesitantly.

[color=darkkhaki][i]"Sir, we really should be moving on..."[/i][/color]

[color=darkred]"Wait. Let me see your faces."[/color] His voice was a commanding one - heavy with years and grief, but a strong tone all the same. [color=darkred]"You are the ones from my dreams... Then the stars were right, and this is the day."[/color] He whispered, and the sudden life in his eyes disappeared, replaced with a look Stef was unfortunately familiar with - the acceptance of the inevitable. Of Death. [color=darkred]"Gods give me strength."[/color] He added in a low whisper.

Tilting her head ever so slightly in confusion, Stef cleared her throat.

"Uhm... begging your pardon, and all, but... why are you - the Emperor - standing in our cell? It's not what one would call cosy." She asked, as politely as she possibly could, and one the guards scowled at her. 

[i]"Yes, how dare I, a common thief, talk to an Emperor? HERESY! BURN THE WITCH!"[/i] She quipped - quite fortunately, in her head - to herself, dry tone not withholding.

The Emperor sighed heavily, eyes darting between her and Sovor.
 
[color=darkred]"Assassins attacked my sons, and I'm next. My Blades are leading me out of the city along a secret escape route. By chance, the entrance to that escape route leads through your cell."[/color] He answered, motioning towards the small alcove in the wall to their right. Stef stared at it in surprise.

"Oh..."