Serana grabbed healing potions of the shelf while Sarah aimed her bow at the mages and shot them both dead. They hurried throughout the dungeon, killing everyone they met, until they found Senna tied up in the corner and the master vampire lurking around the room.

Serana attacked him while Sarah introduced him to her axe. The vampire smashed his warhammer into Serana's skull. She dropped to the ground and he turned his attention to Sarah. She blocked his move and slashed him across the chest until he sunk to the ground. For the kill, she put her foot on his back, shook his head hard three times, sliced him open, then tossed him to the ground.

Serana managed to stand up and crawl toward Senna. "Wow. You took care of him. Too bad his armor doesn't help us any." The girls untied Senna and gave her a supportive hug.

Senna clung to them. "I heard him . . . Ondolemar . . . talking . . . the Thalmor . . . they're invading . . ."

Sarah paled. "Ondolemar told me a while back at the embassy that once the Empire outgrew its usefulness, another war would break out. I never thought it would be in our lifetime."

Serana pulled a chain and watched while the wall opened. "We need to get to Solitude and warn High Queen Elisif at once." They raced through the secret passage and made it outside.

Senna moaned, "We're so far away!"

Sarah pointed in Riften's direction. "No problem. We'll just run back to the city and take the carriage there."

After hours of sprinting, battling bears, and dealing with Serana's complaining, the girls scrambled to Riften Stables. Senna rushed up to the carriage driver. "Solitude! At once!" Sarah threw twenty coins at him while the girls jumped on the back of the horse. Senna frowned. "It's a matter of life and death! GO FASTER!"

The driver gave her a look. "She can only go so fast."

Serana glowered back. "We'll pay you double if you get moving."

Within a day, the horse trotted outside Solitude's gates. The trio leapt off while Sarah chucked twenty more coins in his direction as they hurried toward Castle Dour.

Vivienne Onis called after them, "Why are you in such a rush?"

They barreled through the streets until Senna bumped into Erikur, who snapped, "Watch where you're going! Ooh. A priestess? I hope you worship Dibella, because I could take some lessons of the Dibellan Arts from you-"

Senna rightfully ignored him as they flung themselves into the room where General Tullius and High Queen Elisif were talking. Sarah held up her hands. "Emergency! Stop the Thalmor embassy! They're planning to invade! They kidnapped Senna and ordered her death so she wouldn't tell you!"

General Tullius stopped abruptly. "Senna, is it? What did you hear?"

Senna pulled her hood tighter around her head. "Ondolemar, the leader of the Thalmor in Markarth, started talking to his subordinates about preparing for the invasion of Falkreath."

High Queen Elisif shuddered. "That explains it."

Serana tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

General Tullius crossed his arms. Sarah then noticed the bags under his eyes. "Legate Rikke was murdered while you were gone. We couldn't figure out the culprit. With this information, we should raid the embassy."

Sarah's shoulders tensed. "What if Elenwen is there?"

General Tullius' face had a determined streak to it. "Then we butcher the witch in her own home. Those stupid elves are going to pay for this." No one noticed the death glare Sarah gave him for his insult of half her ancestry.

High Queen Elisif wrung her hands. "I can't abandon my people. I am unable to journey with you. My job is here in Solitude."

General Tullius shook his head. "Rikke was killed in Solitude. Your city isn't as safe as you think, Your Grace. You should stay with me at all times."

Serana piped up, "Sarah and I can search for evidence. She did espionage for the Legion before in the Civil War."

Sarah couldn't contain a cruel smirk. "I've looked forward to cutting Elenwen's life short for a long while. I even broke into the embassy searching for her. I killed six Thalmor agents. Unfortunately, in order to break in, I needed a wooden bowl. I couldn't find a bowl, so I ended up taking two from The Winking Skeever. I returned them afterward, and then Sorex ordered thugs to kill me. So I crept in his room and shot an arrow through his back."

Everyone was silent after her confession. High Queen Elisif spoke, "You were Sorex's killer? Well, it was justifiable; he tried to kill you first."

Sarah admitted, "I'm afraid something will happen to Corpulus because then Minette will have to go to Honorhall."

General Tullius brought her back to the present. "You have to find evidence of their betrayal before we kick them out. You can worry about Minette later."