(Finally I have a new chapter! Sorry this one was so late, it was harder to write than the others for some reason. Luckily I am going to have more spare time now so I
may start releasing chapter more frequently
)
Chapter 4: Darkness rising
four hours later
High Inquisitor Leonal Larethil stormed down the dimly lit corridor of Castle Kvatch, he was in a horrible mood. Larethil was one of the most prestigious leaders of the Thalmor, in charge of tracking down blasphemers and anyone else who opposed the will of the Aldmeri Dominion. He had been returning to the Imperial City Embassies from a visit to Valenwood. Unfortunately it was not a journey one could make in a single day and Larethil had been forced to stop in the city of Kvatch to resupply his entourage. Then, just as he was about to leave the wretched human city the Thalmor Commander of Kvatch had requested his audience! In the dungeon no less!
As the Altmer neared the dungeon he noticed many of the servants he passed looked very scared, even more so than they usually did around the Thalmor. All Larethil could think about though was what tragedy may have occurred that his presence was required on such short notice. It had better be nirn-shattering or he would not be pleased.
The elf reached the dungeon and he threw open the door, pacing in and observing the scene before him with a cold calculating eye. Scattered about the floor were six dead Thalmor, pools of blood surrounding them. There were several Kvatch guards, as well as some Thalmor soldiers wandering about the place. Larethil also spotted the Count standing off to the side talking to the guard captain and some big Nord man with a bleeding nose and a black eye.
Larethil went over to Faerne, the Thalmor commander who had summoned him, “Commander Faerne, what exactly happened here,” the Inquisitor asked in a dangerous voice.
Faerne paled slightly as he regarded his superior, “Well…. We are not exactly sure but it seems some prisoner has escaped.”
Larethil snorted, “Well I assumed as much based on the fact we are in a dungeon,” he leaned closer to the commander and spoke to him in a quieter voice, “This prisoner better not have been important to Thalmor affairs, I would not be pleased if that was the case.”
The other Altmer stepped back slightly and stammered, “Ummm…. Yes, well…. She was not that important…”
Snarling Larethil glared at the man, “I see. I will deal with you later, for now tell me what happened.”
Faerne nodded submissively, resigned to his fate. He began to events in a dull voice, “Well, the woman that escaped was a freelance Breton assassin that has killed several Thalmor officials. She was also believed to be involved in the escape of several members of the royal court of Sentinel when Dominion forces took that city. About a week ago we received news that one of ours spies had learned to much of our… operations, so I hired the Assassin to track the spy down and kill him. We had arranged for her to find him in a secure area of our choosing, once she killed him our officers would subdue her.”
Larethil nodded, “It seems like a good plan, two birds with one stone I suppose,” he cast a glance around there surroundings and frowned at Faerne, “But tell me, why was the criminal ever even taken to the Castle. She should have been taken directly to the embassy to be interrogated.”
Faerne hesitated briefly before explaining, “Well you se my lord, there were… complications. The Assassin somehow managed to track down the spy before he reached our ambush site. Then some freelance mercenary got to her before our troops, and he insisted she be taken to the castle,”
Larethil nodded again, silently cursing the damned humans for their obstinance. Couldn’t these pathetic weaklings just see the Altmer were master race and just accept it? “I see, and were is this ‘freelancer’ now?”
Faerne shrugged, “We aren’t sure my lord. The man, the criminal, and the soldiers you see dead here were last seen by the guards escorting them here. We do have one witness though, the Jailor. The Assassin didn’t quite kill him.” The elf gestured over to were the count, Guard Captain, and several other guardsmen stood. At their center was the bearded Nord that Larethil had spotted as he entered.
Before he moved over to the group of humans the Inquisitor walked through the corpses of his fallen men, examining the wounds decorating their bodies. This was the work of a master fighter, every strike made by the killer was deadly and efficient. From the looks of it she had used some kind of light blade, most likely a dagger or short sword. The elf stepped back slightly as he mentally pictured the way the Assassin had slain her foes. She was good, but one of Larethil’s best abilities as a fighter was his skill at being able to read his opponents, and by simply viewing this battlefield he had gained valuable info about this Assassin.
As he finished assessing the fight Larethil motioned for Faerne and the other Thalmor soldiers in the room to the humans clustered at the other side. As they approached Larethil stepped forward and spoke in his silky ‘diplomatic’ voice, “Greetings Lord, and guardsmen, I am High Inquisitor Leonal Larethil. Commander Faerne here has just informed me of the situation.”
The elf stepped forward and narrowed his heys at the Jailor, the way he usually did when he was interrogating someone, “I would like to hear this mans account of events.”
Larethil frowned slightly as he noticed the brief silent exchange between Count Matius and the Jailor. The man flashed a glance at his leader and the Count responded with an imperceptible nod. This man was obviously not going to fully corporate with the Thalmor. Larethil made a mental note of this Coren Matius’s resistances to the will of the Thalmor. If he didn’t bow his overly proud head to Altmer rule soon he may find himself having an ‘accident’.
The Jailor nodded hesitantly at the Thalmor official before beginning his story, “Well, they just marched in y’know, I was over there. There were some Thalmor like yerself, all those dead fellas over there, and some of my fellow guardsmen. The guards left though before everything happened. Then there was the other two.”
Larethil watched the man like a hawk as he spoke, his piercing golden eyes never leaving the Jailors face, ”Describe the man,” the elf stated simply. He was the only thing of real interest to Larethil here, they already knew who the woman was. This freelance merc was the only unknown variable.
The Jailor wrinkled his eyebrows in response to his question, trying to recall the mans face, “Ummm…. Well he was wearing some very nice lookin black armor, ebony I think it was, that stuffs good. And ummm…. He had shortish brown hair and a beard, although not as long as mine.”
Larethil sighed, “Is that all you remember of the man? Very well, tell me what happened after they came in.”
The Jailor replied, “Well after the guards left the Breton woman in black somehow got out of her bonds and went crazy on al de others. She kicked the black armor guy in the face right off, then killed all the others before I could even get out my weapon! Then she hit me in the face with something and I don’t remember any more.”
Larethil sighed and nodded, and he quickly strode out of the room, gesturing for Faerne to follow him. The two Altmer exited the room, leaving the others to pick up the corpses. Larethil cast a poisonous glace at Faerne and spoke In a deadly whisper, “You have disappointed me Commander, and I don’t like it when people disappoint me. If you wish to keep your position you would do well to find out who the man that caused this mess is and were you can find him. Good day.”
With that the Thalmor High Inquisitor swept on down the hallway, leaving commander Faerne standing there, sweating.
*******
The sun was setting over the Aylied ruin of Miscarcand, were the army of Hashan Kelkôr had set up base. Hashan himself stood at the top of one of the ancient ivory towers, looking out over his ever-growing force of warriors. In the past few months the band of two-hundred Redguards had expanded to almost six-hundred. News had spread throughout Colovia about a great ‘Bandit King’ who intended to drive out the Imperials and their laws and would grant any who joined him land and riches when he established the new land. After a few more successful attacks on Imperial forts bandits and ruffians of all sorts flocked to the successful band of rebels. Hashan had accepted all of them into his army, seeing the lawless men as good fodder. None were to skilled or intelligent, but they would help greatly when he began the next step of his plan.
As the Redguard Warlord looked down upon the lines of tents and campfires scattered through the ruin Aranel approached him from behind, “My lord,” the elf said, waiting for Hashan to respond.
When the Redguard gestured for him to proceed Aranel continued, “The attack on fort Greywatch was a success, and our troops also ambushed a supply caravan just outside of Skingrad.”
Hashan smiled and nodded, “Good, what was in the Caravan?”
Aranel pulled a piece of paper from his belt and unrolled it, reading from the list, “Several barrels of Tamika west weald wine, a crate full of cheese wheels, some Cyrodilic brandy, and a few Imperial girls…”
When Hashan nodded once more Aranel continued, “We also got eighteen new recruits today, the army is growing ever larger.”
Hashan turned and looked at his advisor with a self-satisfied smile, “Yes. Soon all will fall into place and we can begin our next step. Have you contacted your associates?”
The elf nodded, “Yes, they have been notified.”
The Redguard smiled again as they descended the steps down to the central enclosed courtyard of the ancient ruin, “mmm, good. We should be able to begin the next step to liberation from the Empire within a week or two.”
Just as Aranel was about to respond Maren, along with three of Hashan’s other veteran warriors, entered the courtyard. The younger Redguard approached his leader and bowed, “My Lord, there is some Bosmer ruffian in the camp, he said he wouldn’t leave until he spoke to you.”
Hashan growled with impatience, annoyed that he had to deal with yet another stupid little task, he had already completed so many today. “Are you that worthless as a leader Maren? You can’t even deal with one stupid elf?” He then stormed out of the courtyard and into the main camp, shoving his officers out of the way, “Well, were is the little plops then?”
“I’m right here,” a voice said off to Hashan’s left. He turned to see a creepy looking Bosmer in black leather armor. Two of his men were standing vigilant next to the elf, but he didn’t seem to be bothered at all by their presence.
“Who the hell are you? Speak quickly or I will kill you were you stand!” Hashan did not like people who snuck up on him, this man’s presence made him want to kill something.
The Bosmer smiled, “My name is not important, I simply come to deliver a message. Know only this: The Darkveil Assassins, agents of Namira, prince of darkness and shadow, support your cause. They will come here and meet with you in three days time. They seek an alliance. Do not disappoint them.”
With that the Bosmer turned and walked off through the tents, drawing many a glance from the soldiers he passed. Hashan watched him go with a mix of suspicion and interest. A group of Assassins would be very useful, but this business, these ‘Darkveil Assassins’ he wasn’t so sure about. He would have to think deeply on the matter.
“Well, was that all you bothered me about Maren? Get out of my sight!” He spun around and marched back into the courtyard. As he walked he spoke to Aranel, “An interesting encounter yes? You will tell me your thoughts on the matter of these Assassins in the morning, for now bring me those Imperial girls, I could use some distraction…”
