Chapter 1: First Contact
He hated the Thalmor above all else, but the Thalmor wasn't what was trying to kill him now. Today…today Riordan had to deal with the Forsworn.
Almost as bad…I'm sorry, my love…
He would not be getting back to Hjerim as soon as they had planned. He narrowed his eyes as he knocked another arrow. The glowing projectile sat now in the ethereal bow, waiting for the right moment.
Thwip! The bound arrow found purchase in the open chest of a briar-heart as he was about to cut into an unfortunate citizen of the Reach. The woman screamed and ran away from the falling corpse, and the archer responsible rolled forward to meet three more Forsworn that came at him.
Forgoing his bound bow in favor of the Daedric daggers at his hips, Riordan engaged his victims in close combat, leaping and whirling around them in a deadly dance. Within seconds, all three warriors were dead.
The Silent One still held his title.
"I can't thank you enough, Dragonborn; you've kept those savages in hiding thanks to your recent work!" Thonar Silver-Blood raised his glass. "I only wish my wife could have been here to see Markarth free."
Riordan smiled sadly. "It seems evil never sleeps…" And here I was just trying to chase down leads about Alduin. He took a sip of Thonar's stash of Alto wine. "At least Madanach is dead, even his holdouts will have to acknowledge that eventually."
The elder Silver-Blood chuckled. "Aye, there is that, but with him gone, there's room in the Jarl's court for an…advisor…of the elven sort." He swirled the red wine in his glass and snorted. "Damn Altmer gets here after the Forsworn go on the run."
The archer nodded. "Ondolemar…he and I have had…words. But enough about that; I came to warn you."
Thonar leaned forward. "What about?"
"The Stormcloaks will be coming under the leadership of Galmor Stone-Fist in a week, and I'll be among them. If I can give you any advice, stay indoors."
Only one of the men jumped as two knocks sounded.
"Thalmor business! Open the door!"
"Let me handle this!" Silver-Blood hissed as he made his way to the door. Upon opening it, he was shoved aside, and three Thalmor agents barged in, two warriors and a member of the Justiciar.
The Dragonborn narrowed his eyes as he saw the figure dressed in the robes of the Thalmor. Ondolemar. He found me.
"You!" He thrust his finger toward Riordan and stepped quickly over to him. "You have much to answer for, Imperial! How dare you treat a member of the Aldmeri Dominion in such a manner?!"
The armored elves moved forward to, at least it appeared to Riordan, to arrest him. "Under what pretense are you attempting to arrest me for, Ondolemar? Does hurting your pride count?" The Altmer soldiers moved closer, but the archer held up his hand. "I wouldn't, if I were you."
They didn't listen. The first moved in, pulling out a knife while readying the other hand for a shock spell, and the second unsheathed two elven blades.
The Dragonborn almost laughed as the first attack was telegraphed by a mile. The Thalmor soldier with the two swords swung one of them back and charged forward, an amateur strike that was taken care of when the elf found the Imperial's hand wrapped around his wrist.
Snap! A scream accompanied the wet, popping sound as Riordan broke his wrist in the same instant he grabbed it, and the Altmer collapsed from the shock.
"You really should find better recruits, Ondolemar." The Imperial taunted as he flipped over the other elf's head and summoned a bound sword in his chest. "I've fought bandits with more skill!"
The Justiciar glanced at Thonar before smirking and taking his gaze back to Riordan. "Well, I do suppose it is time to end this; you will learn respect, Imperial." His fingers wrapped around the hilt of a sword, and once the Altmer revealed his weapon, Riordan's heart sank.
The Daedric sword glowed, not only because of the tendency of Daedric weapons to do so, but also because the archer noticed the blade held a fire enchantment.
"Now…" Ondolemar sneered. "Shall we get started?"
2 Hours Later
"I hope that this…incident…has not diminished the Reach in the eyes of the Dominion, Justiciar. I can't imagine why an Imperial would challenge you like that!"
Ondolemar smiled. "I am glad to see that you aren't putting the blame for this on me, Jarl Igmund. The Thalmor are indeed lucky to have one such as you in control here." Not that we didn't design it that way.
In truth, the High Elf had withheld some vital information from the Jarl; information his superiors would be anxious to hear.
Daedric weapons clashed as the Imperial tried his best to match Ondolemar's sword with his daggers, but the elf's skill was more than a match for his opponent.
I shall finish this quickly; it seems. The Thalmor thought as he pushed the human back. His foe flipped and leaped with acrobatic grace, yet Ondolemar was able to anticipate where his strikes would land and counter accordingly.
His eyes lit up with glee as he finally found a true opening in the Imperial's defenses and struck, his enchanted blade melting through the Steel Armor and grazing his side. To his credit, the human did not cry out; he bore his obvious pain in silence.
The sword now inches from his opponent's chest, Ondolemar smiled. "Surrender and I shall spare you. The Thalmor could have use for one with your talents."
The human just glared at him.
"Well, what do you say? Death or servitude?"
The Imperial smiled and stifled a laugh.
"Say something, damn you!"
"FUS RO DAH!" Ondolemar didn't even have time to register what that meant for him before he crashed through the wooden door and hit the cobblestone street. To his credit, though, he didn't miss a beat, flipping as he slid and sticking his sword into the ground in order to slow to a stop.
Could it be…? He had wanted to finish the fight, to get answers, but he noticed and crowd gathering. He sheathed his sword and turned away. There would be plenty of time for rematch later.
The Dragonborn is here…like the report from Elenwen said. He smiled.
"Master Justiciar! Are you alright?!" Ondolemar was shaken out of his reverie by a concerned Igmund.
The High Elf quickly brought himself back to the present and smiled at the Jarl. You pathetic sycophant! Of course I'm fine! "Yes, I was just…adding a few mental notes for when I report to my superiors."
The Dragonborn does indeed exist…most interesting. He had no doubt that they would meet again, and when they did, the score would be settled.