The Argonian had arrived at the Bannered Mare in Whiterun just before the clouds released their cold, and languorous raindrops. He sat at the bar, his back to the room, quietly eating his supper and listening to the evening gossip around the fire pit. One among them was a rather interesting tale about an outsider who had been named Thane just this morning. Apparently, the traveler had taken down a dragon and was rewarded with the title and a housecarl named Lydia. The assassin chewed on this bit of news for some time and choked as he tried to swallow it with his mug of ale. The innkeeper offered him a look of concern and a blessing to ward away the ills, a local custom that always unsettled him.
Finishing his meal, he was also able to learn that the two had left Whiterun around mid-day and was seen heading north, possibly towards Winterhold. Getting up, he thanked the innkeeper and left the city as quickly as he could. The Argonian continued at a high pace down the ancient road, counting off the distance of a typical days travel until he finally came to a stop. He had reached past the point where the rain had turned into snow and this gave him opportunity, so long as he worked quickly. Calibrating the amount of time it had taken to reach this point, he moved a little further up the road and planted a stick in the snowy ground. An image of his prey fighting the dragon momentarily flashed in his mind. Shaking the ill omen away, the assassin began walking in ever widening circles looking for anything that might feel like tracks before the weather could bury its traces.
* * * *
Lydia stood in the dimly lit cavern in which all their troubles had begun. Standing by the small fire and wearing little more than her steel boots, she gingerly bent this way and that way to test the extent of her mending flesh. The Breton's magics had managed to close her wounds and reduce some of the swelling while she had laid unconscious. Though weakened by the blood loss, the Nord was satisfied that she could still function as a warrior and returned to sit on the bedding next to her Thane.
The young woman had supported Lydia's nearly unconscious body back to the now empty cave and had set up camp as night fell. The neolithic bird carving had turned out to be a totem, part of an ancient burial site. Ignoring the guardian bird, the Breton had desecrated the stone coffins for the linen wrappings inside. Some of it was used to dress the Nord's wounds; the rest of it was used for their sleeping mats. She now slept on one, exhausted by her efforts.
The Nord warrior offered silent prayer to Arkay, promising to teach a proper lesson to the Breton for her callous disregard for the Nord dead. She also promised to thank her Thane and asked the Divine for forgiveness in this matter.
Having finished assessing the situation, the warrior found herself wide awake in the pre-dawn hours. Chewing on a few rations, she banked the ebbing fire and began to mend her armor.
With a waking gasp, Nephili suddenly sat straight up and spoke. "There's someone outside."
Lydia stared at the Breton for a moment, then dropped her leather auger. Standing up with her sword and bow, she motioned for her charge to follow and walked to the rear of the cavern where the stone coffins lay. The Nord pointed to one of the caskets for Nephili and hid herself behind another.
* * * *
The Argonian crouched just inside the cave entrance contemplating his next move. The snow tracks that had lead him here had become confused and difficult to interpret. Though the accumulated snowfall had nearly obscured them, he could still tell that the movement, direction and number of prints had increased.
Closing his eyes, the Argonian began a breathing exercise to calm his spirit and open his mind. He saw two individuals entering the cave, then quickly exiting, pursued by a large animal. Looking down at the disappearing evidence, his best guess had him believe that what had pursued them was a sabrecat. If that beast was still alive and inside the cave, that would be quite a difficult challenge, even for the assassin. Thinking for a moment longer, he decided he had to be sure and began following the animals trail back out into the snow.
* * * *
Lydia and Nephili had waited behind their stone coffins for the unknown intruder for a good number of minutes. The Nord looked to the Breton and mouthed, Are you sure?
Nephili thought for a second than nodded her head.
The housecarl signaled her to stay hidden and stepped out from behind her sarcophagus. Nephili watched fearfully as the Nord warrior crept up to the cave entrance and disappeared around the corner.
The Breton stared across the room, waiting for the Nords return. Unnerved by the silence, she ducked back behind her coffin and called forth her Familiar who promptly howled into the cavern before softly growling at an intruder. Nephili winced at her stupid decision; then she heard a noise.
Lydia?
* * * *
The Argonian had found the dead snow sabrecat and considered the situation. Not that many had the skill to kill such a beast and the sight of it momentarily unsettled him. Examining its claws, he realized his prey must have returned to the cavern in order to heal their injuries. Seeing this as a fortunate turn of events, he smiled at his luck and crept back to the cave, leaving the lifeless animal behind.
Inside, the assassin was now hidden in the shadowy corridor, only a few steps away from the main chamber. He heard a wolf's howl and flinched. Flicking his tongue at his own skittishness, the Argonian decided additional caution wouldn't hurt and reached into his satchel for an invisibility potion and drained its contents. Pulling out his dagger, he carefully stepped into the cavernous space and stopped.
Before him was a dying fire, some makeshift bedding, a steel chestplate and greaves, an no targets. His mind turned this discovery over, then he quickly backed away from the dim light. All the signs pointed to both individuals being inside this cave. Perhaps moments earlier, the both of the them had been sitting by the fire. The Nord had even undressed to mend her armor yet, there was no sign of them. Were they in hiding? But why?
They know I'm here...
Sithis was not being kind tonight. By some means, they had detected his presence and his great advantage had become much less so. He began to circle around the perimeter looking for his prey. In moments, he saw the Breton, hiding behind one of the sarcophagi along with a spectral wolf, muzzled by her hands.
They are waiting for me. Interesting...
Comfortable that they did not sense his presence, he strained to locate the Nord but could not see into every shadow. Estimating the time that remained of his invisibility, he continued to circle past the Breton.
* * * *
Lydia lay naked on her stomach as she watched the uninvited guest enter the cave. She had just earlier seen the fresh tracks in the snow and had made a quick decision. The Nord stepped into the tracks and out to a distance where she felt she could conceal herself. She watched him disappear into the entrance and got up out of the snow to follow, sword on her back and bow at the ready.
The warrior now crouched in the darkness, just outside the inner chamber, trying to determine her next move. She had taken a peak around the corner but found no sign of the intruder around their campfire. Fingering her bow, Lydia could only jump to one conclusion.
He found our camp empty and must have assumed that we know...
Somewhere inside was an unknown individual who had hidden himself in the shadows. Her Thane was in danger.
* * * *
The Argonian had made it to the back of the chamber and had found no one else in hiding. He realized something was very wrong. Even if his targets had somehow known of his presence, the one simply couldn't have just disappeared unless...
Sithis..!
... ...calm down, calm down. If they truly knew where I was, I'd already be dead. They probably don't know I'm invisible...
The other one was likely just outside the main chamber, too far to help the Breton but likely equipped with a bow. His invisibility would only last a bit longer but he decided he still had the upper hand. With both him and his prey hidden in the shadows, he could wait out the conjuration before attacking the wench. She would become his shield and would be pushed up to the entrance before dying by his hand. After that would be a fight with a naked Nord woman which he was sure he could handle. Closing his eyes, the Argonian began a breathing exercise to calm his spirit and open his mind...
* * * *
Nephili's hairs stood on end. She could feel the presence that she had felt earlier. Only this time, it was located directly behind her.
I... ...this is... ...not crazy!
Running past her doubts, she jumped out of her hiding place and ran towards the entrance. The spectral wolf lunged at the still invisible Argonian but disintegrated just before mauling his face, it's time in this plane having been spent. Holding up both hands, the young mage followed her Familiar and shot tails of fire straight into the assassin.
"Lydia! Come back! He's in here!"
The naked warrior turned the corner, arm momentarily taut with arrow. The projectile struck the assassin in the shoulder as his form was revealed.
The Argonian cursed at them, unable to comprehend what had just happened. He called on the Hist and threw his dagger into the stream of fire. The mageling yelped in pain and shut off the fireworks, the blade stuck in her leg. Pulling his sword from scabbard, he rushed at the prey, hoping to cut her down before engaging the Nord but it was too late. The two had closed their gap and now the Nord was out front with her blade at the ready.
Lydia parried in response to his first downward swing then elbowed him in the face. The Argonian stumblied backwards and swung his blade across in response, trying to buy precious seconds. The Nord blocked the sweep but recoiled; her timing had been off and she received a cut for the mistake. The earlier injuries had stiffened her movements, making this fight that much more dangerous.
Recovering, the Argonian stepped out of Lydia's arc with his body low, blade up. Behind her, he could see the Breton had recovered enough to cast another familiar The assassin cursed as he was now forced to engage with forced timing. He rushed inward, thrusting the tip of his blade towards center mass. Raising her stance, the warrior waited for the flash of steel and rejoindered, striking the Argonian in the chest.
The assassin momentarily stared at the buried blade wondering how everything had gone wrong. He had been so good at this job; this was not supposed to be his fate.
May Sithis guide me...
Lydia stood nearly exhausted, almost giddy from the battle-rush. Crouching over the dead intruder, the warrior padded through his pockets then pealed back his partially burnt clothing to reveal another outfit. Lydia looked over to her charge. "Someone has taken out a contract on you. This is a Dark Brotherhood assassin."
Nephili stared at the body, still trying to comprehend the events. Looking back to Lydia, she could only think of one thing.
"The Thalmor."
Lydia stared back her charge. "... ... ... wHAT?"
"... I... was a student of an Altmer mage named Tarerane. She had betrayed a provision of the White-Gold Concordat to teach me her magics and was arrested and imprisonned for treason back in Bruma."
The Nord studied the Breton now with uncertain appraisal.
"And that's it?"
Nephili looked back at the warrior, her eye's wide. "That's all I can think of."
* * * *
"straaaangers in the niiiight, exchanging glances"
Comments