DalaEss quietly walked the short distance from the stables to the large gates of Solitude. She didn't know what had possessed her to accept this mission from Delvin, the bastard knew she was wanted for a few murders throughout the city. She made sure her swords were easy to access on her hips and back as she waited for the guards to push open the gates. With the recent assassination of the High King (her handy work), the city was closed to outsiders. Luckily Delvin had sent word ahead to some of their own who had infiltrated the guard. Both guards on gate duty tonight were her own, they gave her small nods before resuming their post. They would be her escape route if anything went wrong on this mission.
She was dressed in her usual garb, leather pants, steel toed boots, and dust straps to hold her knives and then her chest piece, it was a simple wrap around that protected her vital areas while still showing off a slice of her toned midriff. She had on a red scarf to cover up the brand mark on her neck, a lovely gift for joining the thieves' guild. Her short blond hair was pulled back with only a few soft strands falling down into her dual colored eyes. Her right eye the color of honey held up to the sunlight, the other a pale milky color; she could thank the six inch scar running under her eye for the color. Those damnable spiders could be fast some times. She could make out shapes in her left eye but that was it. To try and hid the ragged scar she had taken to wearing her trademark paint on her face. Ruby red streaks ran up her face diagonally giving hint to her barbarian Nord background. She had the height and build of a Nord women, standing at 5'11 she dwarfed most other women. Her body was toned, muscles clinging to her, she was proud to show off her ripped stomach and defined arms, they made her feel strong. But the rest of her features gave way to her more elegant elven ancestry. A small slightly upturned nose, full lips that were the color of a cherry blossom in full bloom, and soft cheekbones under her large eyes. Her ears were ever so slightly pointed adding a slight exotic look to her features. While she had gained muscles and height from her Nordic ancestry she had gained her soft curves from her Elvish heritage, if you coupled the pair together then you had one feminine looking Nord woman. Not exactly a trait you wanted to have when labeling yourself one of the two races, Nord men preferred their women to be as tough as them, in bed and out. Good thing DalaEss didn't like Nord men, she silently laughed as she continued to slink along the alleyways of the city.
Behind her she knew her second, Arya was watching her from the rooftops, half Elvish half Nordic like herself, Dala had found herself bonding with the younger woman almost instantly. Shunned by both races they had taken comfort and refuge in each other, Dala thought of the woman as her baby sister more than anything else. And like Dala, Arya had turned to a life of thievery to get by, when they joined the Thieves' Guild and started working as a team things turned around. Now they were both the top dogs at the Guild and set up quite nicely in a few large estates, Dala owned a home in almost every city in Skyrim.
Dala's thoughts came back to the present as she heard a noise behind her, she quickly turned, her swords soundlessly coming out of their sheaths at her hips. The two blades were identical, the only thing her Elvish mother had ever given her. Forged from the strongest Elven metal, the swords were three feet in length including the grip. Beautiful rune work was burned into the blade, because of them the swords were almost alive. She could feel their presence and them hers, they obeyed her. The silver glowed in the light of the street lamps giving away her position, she dared not sheath them for she knew something was watching her. She made a small chirping noise and just like that Arya appeared by her side, silently dropping from the rooftops, her own elvish blade gleaming like Dala's.
"What is it?" The question was said quietly, Arya only hearing it because she was pressed to Dala's side.
"A patrol squad, ten by my count, too many for the normal rounds. Their steps were quick, they know we're here." Dala cursed under her breath,
"A set up?" Arya shook her head,
"I don't think so, Delvin's not that stupid." Dala snorted as they quickly started moving back towards the main gates, if they could get through them and to their horses they had a chance to escape. Dala knew she and Araya could easily take the ten armed guards, but where there was one patrol there was another. They would have the entire city guard on them before they even knew it. Dala flipped the swords in her hands so the blades were facing backwards. She could hear the footsteps behind them now, and there were more than ten. A single bead of sweat dripped between her shoulder blades soaking into the scabbard of the beautiful steel sword on her back. As they rounded the corner with the gates in their sights they were surrounded by no less than twenty guards, twice the amount Arya had seen. They knew about Dala and Arya's reputations or they wouldn't have sent so many. The leader, probably the Commanding officer by the looks of his armor took a step forward. He raised his great sword at them and said three simple words.
"Drop your weapons." Before the last word was even out of his mouth Dala was attacking. She rammed the butt of her sword into his nose sending him crashing to the ground. She turned and dropped two more before the guards had even registered what had happened. Arya hung back, that was how their team worked. Arya scouted and spotted for Dala, only intervening if needed. Dala didn't use the blade ends of her swords, simply taking down her opponents with blunt force. This would make it easier if they were overwhelmed. She wouldn't add another murder to her list in this city, it was already getting too long. Before she knew it all twenty men were down on the ground moaning as they clutched their abrasions. Dala ran a hand through her hair to keep it from falling into her face and turned to Arya.
"Let's go." Arya ignored her and looked behind her, a hint of fear creeping into her gaze. Dala turned and swore, General Tullius and his pets were running towards them at full speed. Dala's long time nemeses Legate Rikke was glaring at her with murderous intent in her gaze. She turned to the gates, even if they broke into a sprint Tullius would catch them before they made it. Behind the older legionnaire were twenty of his personal guard, highly trained mercenaries. Dala moved both swords to her left hand, lightly gripping them by the dull side of their blades. Arya moved beside her and did the same, they waited as Tullius approached with his sword drawn. He frowned at them as he checked each of his men. When he was satisfied none of them were dead he turned back to the two thieves.
"DalaEss, good to see you again." Dala gave him a smug look as she waved,
"Hey Tullius... Rikke, haven't run into you guys in a while." Rikke was practically snarling at her, damned Nord women. Tullius smiled at her, unlike the almost obsessive hate Rikke seemed to have for Dala, Tullius had always found her amusing, and talked to her with an air of respect, at least when he wasn't trying to arrest her.
"So have you finally come to arrest me for killing the dumb ass Argonian Gulum Ei? In my defense he did lie to me about some very important information. And you know how I feel about liars." Tullius sighed heavily while Rikke was practically jumping up and down,
"She confessed! Did you hear her sir, she confessed to being a part of the Thieves Guild and to killing that Argonian!" Tullius held up his hand,
"Rikke you and I both know that she was a part of the guild before she said anything. And that damnable Argonian stole an entire case of rare wine from the Blue Palace, so as far as I'm concerned that matter of business is done." Dala grinned like a Khajiit, they didn't need to know that she had had stolen the wine to get Gulum Ei to talk to her, some things were better left unsaid.
"So what am I charged with?" Tullius look slightly pained as he let out a big sigh.
"Nothing, as of this point all previous charges are dropped, you have the Jarls pardon." Dala was used to masking her emotions, it came with her job description but she couldn't help the shock written on her face as her jaw dropped. She heard Arya gasp in surprise behind her as she laid a small hand on her shoulder.
"Your friend there as well, both of you are in the clean slate again." Dala narrowed her eyes in suspicion.
"What do you want?" Tullius grinned, he never could sneak one by the girl.
"I want you to join the Legion." Dala couldn't stop the roar of laughter that escaped her throat, this had to be the most ridiculous request she had ever heard. When she realized Tullius wasn't joking she stopped laughing and gave him an incredulous look.
"You want me; a nationally renowned thief and assassin, one of several masters of the Thieves' Guild, and someone who has personally killed some of your men and innocence in this city, to join your ranks?!" He nodded, no ounce of joking in his gaze. Dala looked at Rikke, the woman looked like she had been kicked repeatedly.
"Why?" Tullius sighed,
"I would rather have this discussion in my command room if you don't mind, I would rather none of the populace heard what I'm about to say." Dumbfounded Dala could only nod as she and Arya slid their weapons back into their holsters and then proceeded to follow Tullius back to Castle Dour. Once they were all seated around his charts table Tullius resumed speaking.
"We are losing this war, Ulfric has gained much support from the east. They are setting their sights on Whiterun, we can't let them have it. Whiterun is the center of Skyrim, the largest City of trade in this blasted land. If they get a hold of it they will have a grasp in every hold in Skyrim." Dala shook her head,
"I still don't see what that has to do with me?" Tullius nodded,
"It has to do with you because you're the best assassin I know. You specialize in infiltration and disguise, which would be useful to us. We would use you as a last ditch effort. You would be sent in if things looked to be going south." Dala nodded, the gears in her head already making up multiple scenarios to see if this would turn in her favor.
"And if I failed?" Tullius snorted,
"I have seen you single handedly take out twenty men within minutes, combine that with your friend here and you two are unstoppable. The men we have right now are sloppy, they are barely trained. Until we can get real reinforcements from Cyrodiil you are our army." Dala cocked her head,
"I don't fight for anyone anymore." She hadn't since she had become a pawn in a certain bastard Daedra's plot, it had ended with many innocence lost. Arya nudged her bringing Dala back into the present. She looked at Tullius who was nodding his head as if he already knew that would be her answer.
"You wouldn't have to swear fealty to the Empire, all I ask is you don't kill any more of the men in this army. We wouldn't tell the men about you either so you don't have to worry about your name being vocalized across Skyrim." She laughed,
"My name already is, I'm known in every city in the country, or did you forget who you were speaking too?' Dala let some of her Thu'um into her voice as she said the last part. Even though she was now known as a thief, her slaying of the World Eater still made her a hero in many people's eyes… much to her annoyance. Some of the men in the room took a step back as her voice rattled some of the tankards on the table, Tullius was the only one who looked calm.
"I don't need Dala the Dragonborn, I need Dala the assassin." Pondering the answer Dala leaned back in her chair, beside her Arya was watching everything unfold, that was her job, to watch.
"And if I refuse your little invitation to your team?" Tullius snapped his fingers and all his men drew their swords.
"Then your Pardon would be revoked and you would be arrested immediately. I'm sorry but we have no choice, you're a danger to us without our supervision. Ulfric could make the same offer, and the fact that you are a leader of one of the most dangerous guilds in Skyrim makes you a big threat." Dala grinned although she knew it was more a baring of teeth. Before Tullius could even move Dala was over the table with a thin silver blade pressed to his jugular. She stared into his eyes, the grin never leaving her face. Her voice vibrated with her Thu'um, strong emotions always caused her Thu'um to appear, the Greybeards said it was because of her dragon soul. The Dovah used their emotions to make their shouts stronger and more deadly.
"You do realize I could kill you and everyone else in this room before any of you even had time to scream right?" She had to give props to Tullius, while she could practically smell the fear coming off of him he didn't so much as flinch and his voice was unwavering as he spoke.
"Yes." Dala leaned back a little and perched on her heels, her blade was still lightly pressed against Tullius's throat. Every guard in the room was standing now with death glares in her direction, behind her Arya sat with an almost bored expression on her face but Dala knew better. The girl was simply waiting to see what would happen before she made her move. Finally Dala removed her blade and slid it back into the pocket on her dust straps. Rikke was practically foaming at the mouth as she angrily shoved her sword back into its place. Dala, still perched like a cat ready to strike, turned to smile at the older woman.
"Don't worry Rikke, you'll get your chance one day." With those words Dala lightly hopped off the table to stand behind Arya. She could feel the tension in the younger girl's shoulders and gently started kneading the flesh. With a quick look their eyes met and Arya gave her a small nod. Dala had her answer, she looked back up at Tullius.
"Fine Tullius, you have a deal. But be warned, I don't take kindly to blackmail, next time you will not be so lucky." Tullius nodded,
"Duly noted, now onto the matter at hand. You're shipping out tonight, we have reports that Ulfric is mounting an attack on Whiterun. He will be there in less than two weeks, I need you to convince Balgruuf to let us garrison troops there for protection. You know him personally, do whatever you have to do to get him to say yes. I need you back here in six days, then you march back to Whiterun at the head of our forces." Dala could already feel the headache that would most likely be a raging migraine by the end of the week starting. She rubbed the back of her neck and nodded, as she and Arya turned to leave Dala looked at Tullius.
"I hope you know what you have gotten yourself into Tullius, I'm not the savior you think I am." He only nodded as Dala and Arya left the chambers. Outside a chilled rain had slowly started to fall, Dala shrugged on a leather jacket she had just happened to see on a nearby table while Arya raised her fur lined hood. Dala readjusted the sword on her back so it wasn't digging into her shoulders and then started for the gates.
"Will we not be staying the night?" Dala shook her head,
"No, we need to get on the road. It's about a two day ride to Whiterun. We will have to move quickly to try and meet Tullius's demands. If we get there on schedule we will have two days of rest before we come back. The sooner we get there the longer we have to relax." Arya nodded,
"We should tether the horses together, that way one of us can sleep while the other guides the horses. We can alternate so at least well get some rest before we get to Whiterun. It will be an intense two days." Dala nodded as she lightly threw her arm over the younger woman's shoulders.
"Good plan sis, I'll take first point then. You try and get some sleep and I'll wake you around dawn." Arya nodded as they passed the gates and mounted up. As they started off in the direction of Whiterun Dala looked back. She only hoped that Delvin would be patient enough, she wouldn't be getting his item any time soon.