"Have I ever mentioned my detestment of Solitude?" Lilith asked.
She reached under her hood, scratching at her hair again.
"I think mine has fleas," she complained.
"You should have brought your own," was my reply. "Chances are, you're right."
I heard Lilith throw off the cloak, smirking to myself.
"You're enjoying this!" Lilith accused.
"I do tend to enjoy suffering," I retorted.
My eyes trailed over the people of Solitude. Something was off. Strangers in any town meant rumors and stares. The few gathered people and the peddlers were taking great pains not to look at us. Peddlers especially loved to gossip. I glanced to my left, noting the sound of steel against the cobblestone paths of Solitude and knew we were being followed. But by who?
"Lilith," I whispered to her.
We were steps away from the shade of a bridge right smack in the center of the Hold.
"Hm?" Lilith asked.
I whirled, grabbing her wrist and charged away from the shade for a slanted path that took us upwards. Passing a blacksmith, I reached out with my other hand, knocking him off balance enough that the swords he held fell from his grip, creating a momentary barrier.
"Syra, no!" Lilith cried as I dragged her into what was a castle courtyard.
She was tugging on my wrist and I knew why as soon as I heard the gate behind us crash close. I swore, eyes searching for a way out but the other gate was closing as well.
"Up!"
Lilith took charge now, yanking me along just as an arrow struck the stones near my foot. I glanced around, noting the strategic positions the guards held. This was an ambush! They'd been waiting for us! Lilith had pulled me up another slanted pathway and we were running along the top of the castle, dodging arrows. It felt like the guards were merely playing with us. They didn't move from their posts, shooting an arrow off whenever one of us was in sight. Lilith pulled me into the shelter of covered portion of the intricate castle top and we both dropped, panting.
"They knew we were coming," I growled. "How?"
"I have an idea," Lilith replied.
I glared her way, more annoyed that there was an obstacle in my way than with her.
"I sense a Daedric Prince," Lilith went on. "And where there's a Daedric Prince-"
"There's usually a Daedric Champion," I finished.
I glanced at the line of men, searching for one that might be even a little bit special. Special enough for a Daedric Prince. They all appeared to be the same generic Imperial mold I'd memorized during trips to the Imperial City.
"We can't stay here," I said.
"We don't have a choice," Lilith retorted.
"We're sitting ducks here," I argued. "They have the advantage. I haven't got a bow and you're the only one who can use magic."
"What about that trick you did in the Cistern?" Lilith demanded.
I didn't even bother hiding how shocked I was.
"Brynjolf asked me about it," Lilith explained. "He asked if I knew what you did. You used Telekinesis, didn't you?"
I schooled my features into a scowl, wondering which I should tell her. A lie or the truth? I settled for middle ground.
"No," I replied. "It wasn't. And I can't tell you what it is."
I added that last bit to stop her from asking further questions.
"But can you do it again?" Lilith asked.
I shook my head, somewhat mad that I couldn't. That would have really helped.
"We should have come at night," I grumbled.
"Yes but that doesn't help us now," Lilith said. "Like you said, we have to move. What did you have in mind?"
I glanced past her shoulder, eyes finding a door that probably led inside.
"There," I said.
I rose slightly, still crouched, inching around her.
"Stay here," I ordered. "I'm going to make sure its not locked and that its clear."
"And if its not?" Lilith demanded.
"Then leave me," I replied. "Use every inch of magic you have to get free."
"I can't-" she began.
"Look, this is not my time," I snapped. "I don't belong here! If I die, who cares? If you care, then name a kid after me but don't throw your life away needlessly!"
Before she could respond, I surged forward, rolling once and hitting the door full force. My hand went to the handle and I yanked on it in desperation, relieved when it opened. I fell into it, kicking it closed just as arrows both buried themselves in its front and in the wall of the room. I gave myself a few minutes to shake off the full body hit before I looked around. My eyes met the terrified eyes of a Altmer, tied to the sole bed in the room, her clothes ripped. She whimpered, seeing me.
"Run," she advised. "Before he comes back."
I weighed the options. If I ran, I might make it out alive, with Lilith, leaving this pathetic soul to her fate, whatever or however horrible it was. Then again, she very well might know ways out of this damnable castle unseen. She had the telltale signs of a Solitude citizen. Slightly plump, indicating she was well fed and probably hadn't had to fight a day in her life. I drew my dagger, bending over her and laying a hand over her mouth. I met her terrified eyes.
"I'm going to free you," I said. "In return, you have to help me get out. Can you do that?"
She nodded and slowly, I released her mouth, transferring my hand to one of her restraints.
"Fool."
I heard her mumbled word right as I sliced the first restraint. Her fist flew up, slamming into my face. It wasn't hard enough to knock me out but I dropped my dagger, stunned. My guard went up as she sat up, fear no longer in her eyes until she realized that, dagger or no, I was charging her. I didn't get too close. Strong arms grabbed me by my hair, yanking me to the floor and a heavy body fell upon me, knocking the air from my lungs.
"What was the delay?" demanded the Altmer on the bed.
I struggled with whoever was on me, a male if what was poking into my lower back was a sign of gender, discovering another Altmer dressed in what I'd learned were the clothes of a Thalmor.
"What delay?" he snapped. "The entire plan worked itself out."
The former "prisoner" yanked her restraints off, rising from the bed and fixing her clothes.
"Bitch," I hissed, spitting at her.
The Altmer smirked as my spit missed her foot by a few inches. Her companion readjusted her grip on my hair, slamming my head into the floor. Dazed, he yanked my head back up to look at her.
"Syra, you stand accused of the crime of murder and intent to kill."
"Says who?" I demanded.
"I do."
Greir's voice was one I would never forget. It was this horrid scratchy sound, as if she'd been punched in the throat. Instantly, I fought against the high elf using me as a seat but he was too heavy for me so I ended up looking like nothing more than a child throwing a temper, my feet kicking as I clawed at the rug beneath me. Greir came to stand beside the Altmer who was reading me my rights. They shared a look of satisfaction.
"I suspect she brought along a friend. No one from the Brotherhood, I'm sure," Greir informed her little friend. "My spy in that caravan reports that it is Lilith, the Arch Mage."
"We have a warrant of arrest for her as well," argued my restrainer.
"Best not to stir up the Nords by taking their Arch Mage. They may dislike all Mer but they do not like having things taken away," Greir went on.
She glanced my way.
"I do believe we can handle this," she said to the fake prisoner, indicating herself and the imbecile on me.
"Very well."
With that, the female Altmer was gone. Greir smirked, kneeling before me, drawing her own dagger.
"Perfect set up, huh?" she asked. "One helpless girl and you turn into a bleeding heart."
"Bite me," I said.
Greir smirked, showing me, for the very first time, a hint of fang. My eyes widened.
"You-" I began.
"Yes, I am. Bendu here already knows," Greir interrupted. "I needed one person in my confidence. He's better than cattle."
Bendu moved at the mention of his name and I tensed.
"You don't get it, do you? Why you felt the need to free her?"
"I was going to use her," I snapped.
"No you weren't," Greir declared. "You see, Molag's plane of Oblivion strips those he sends there of their compassion. You've been there for over 200 years. But its coming back, creeping up on you. Soon, you won't be able to kill without feeling the loss."
"Give me my dagger and I'll prove you wrong."
Greir shook her head.
"No, I don't think I will. You're just a small fry, a resource I'm not leaving in Ulfric's reach."
She folded her hands behind her back, rising.
"You will rot in the dungeon for a few days before we return you to the Imperial City."
My eyes widened at that, making Greir's grin reappear.
"That's right, Syra, you're going home."
(General POV)
"Release me!" Lilith snarled, thrashing against the grip the Thalmor lackies had on her.
"You're lucky we're letting you go," hissed one.
Lilith spit in her face. The Thalmor slapped her before throwing her out the large doors of the Hold. Hitting cobblestone, Lilith scraped her hands, drawing in breath as she examined her palms. A quick healing spell fixed her right up. It did not fix the situation she was in, barred from the Hold and her companion locked in. She gathered her cloak around her, retreating under the watchful eyes of Solitude's guard.
'Hold on, Syra,' she urged, sending up a prayer to any Divine that happened to be listening at that time.
And indeed, one was listening very closely.
Etienne looked up from his wallowing, blinking to clear his vision. He shrunk back into the shadows, watching as two Thalmor soldiers dragged in a struggling Dunmer. At least Etienne thought she was a Dunmer. He wasn't a hundred percent sure. After all, she was putting up a fight, thrashing and sinking her teeth into the upper shoulder of one of the Altmer. He swore, relinquishing control of her hand to tug at her hair.
"Fool!" snarled his partner, dropping their shared burden.
She tore her teeth from the Thalmor's arm, scrambling away from them. Etienne had to admit she looked pretty bad ass despite her bleeding lip and her wild hair. Hell, she was even weaponless and he was almost certain she could handle both Mer in a fight. The Thalmor seemed to think the same. They wasted no time and the one not nursing his wounds gathered lightning in his hand, pointing it at her. She glared, tensing, almost like she was willing to risk it.
"Cell, now," growled the one whose arm was bleeding.
In response, she spit blood his way. His partner sent a small wave of lightning her way. She moved just as fast, diving out of the way. She rolled back to her feet, stumbling a bit and falling against the cell door. The Thalmor, ignoring his bleeding arm, charged forward, his good arm striking out and his hand wrapping around her throat. He squeezed with enough force that she gasped for breath long enough that he and his partner fought her into the chains in the cell. She slumped as she gasped for air, too busy with her task to glare in finality at the fleeing guards. Etienne waited until he heard them leave before he slipped his wrists from his own chains. He crept to the bars separating the cells, looking at the new prisoner. Panting, she looked his way, her blue eyes a storm of emotions.
"How'd they catch you?" he asked.
She merely kept panting, studying him. Etienne refused to be discouraged.
"Its best not to fight. They tend to use more force if you do," he went on.
"Your chains."
Her voice was hoarse, courtesy of the growing bruises around her throat most likely. Etienne lifted his wrists.
"Managed to keep one lockpick on me but it broke on the second shackle," he explained. "I managed to bend em enough that they don't close as tightly as they should."
"Do you still have the broken pieces?" she asked.
Etienne glanced at the floor of his cell. Sure enough, the pieces were still where he'd dropped them.
"Got 'em. Don't know what good they'll do you," he admitted.
She smirked.
"Not me. You," she said.
Her blue eyes dug deep into his soul.
"Broken or not, its still good. And your hands are free. Get out of here. Find the Arch-Mage Lilith and tell her not to do anything stupid."
"What does that even mean?" Etienne demanded.
"She'll know."
(And Back to Syra)
I took it all back. Every word I'd ever said about thieves, many, no all, of which had been bad. It had all been a hunch, encouraging the thief beside me to escape. With his broken lockpick, he shouldn't have been able to. But he'd done it. He'd done the impossible. Which could only mean one thing. Whichever of the Daedric Princes that were hanging around had taken an interest in me. It wasn't Molag Bal. He'd would've taken my imprisonment as a golden opportunity to taunt me. My stomach rumbled, interrupting my musings and I bit back a groan. If they picked up even a small trace of weakness, my captors would see it as a sign that they were finally getting to me. What other reason could they possibly have for leaving me down here alone for the days that had passed? As if sensing my thoughts, the door above creaked open followed by the approaching footsteps of a single person. I closed my eyes and let my body go completely limp, hoping to fool the visitor into thinking I was out while I watched their every move through slitted eyes. My cell door creaked open and I fought not to tense, even though I really couldn't do anything about it. Whoever was visiting me was using the shadows to their advantage. Even as they leaned in close, I couldn't see their face well enough to recognize them.
"I know you are awake," rumbled Bendu.
Damn it! The Thalmor who'd used me as a chair. He now gripped my chin, staring into my eyes when I fully opened them. His own amber eyes widened.
"Ah, now there they are. Those uniquely blue eyes. I've never seen a Nord or Dunmer with your color," he remarked.
He licked his lips, leaning in closer, my chin secure in his hand as he buried his nose in my hair, breathing deep.
"Even now, you smell delicious," he whispered. "I could eat you up."
I had to admit that I was impressed by Greir. If this was her interrogation method, it was working. If it would get her cattle away from me, I would have spilled every secret I had like water from a fall.
"Too bad."
He stepped back, finally, removing his hands but still watching me with his amber eyes.
"I'm afraid that will have to wait until after Mistress Grier has finished with you."
"I'm very bitter," I retorted. "And not very agreeable."
Bendu grinned.
"You know, I have an attraction to the hearty Nord women," he admitted.
I stared back at him, face mirroring stone. He was not to be deterred.
"But, as an Altmer, I am often pressured to support the Mer," he continued.
His hands were creeping their way back onto my body, going lower than my chin. I hissed as his fingers brushed down my thighs, seizing them as he leaned into me fully, letting his little friend poke against me.
"But you," he whispered right in my ear. "Solve my problem nicely."
"I'd rather die," I said.
"If such is the case, then you won't mind if I get some use from your body beforehand."
The door above creaked open.
"Bendu!" a voice snapped. "She's looking for you!"
Bendu backed off again, looking annoyed.
"Another time," he said to me, his words a promise.
With that he left and I openly shivered, praying that I died before he could get his hands on me.