Ataurus and Surobus brandished their blades after they cut down a mob of Thalmor soldiers. King Raccan finished off a mage and caught up to the two.
" You know, for Imperials, you can fight pretty damn well," he said.
" Hmph," Surobus responded, arrogance in his tone. He sheathed his sword and slowed down. He wiped a small stain of blood from his armor and sighed. Ataurus slid his sword into its sheath and coughed.
" These elves are not the best at warfare, so it seems," he said.
" I agree," Surobus replied. The three looked around the area they were in. The Market District used to be the premier place for shopping in the Empire. But now, it looked like the dragons had attacked. Crates filled with goods littered the streets, and corpses of citizens lay about the streets. Stores had their doors smashed in, and fire came out from them. The air was reddish, as though an Oblivion Gate was near.
" By the Nine," Raccan whispered.
Surobus said, " Reminds me of the Crisis." Ataurus glared at him.
" Help...me," someone croaked.
Ataurus looked to his right and saw a Thalmor soldier under a heavy wooden door.
He walked over to the elf and asked, " Why should I save you?" The Thalmor gasped for air and then slightly shrugged.
" There is nothing worth saving. But it would be from the good of you heart," the elf groaned.
Ataurus chuckled and stepped back. " Look around. Look at what you and your people have done. Look at the bodies! I think there are even children in here!" he yelled.
The elf opened his mouth as if he were going to say something, but he didn't.
" This time, the Empire will not hold back! We will not retreat! We shall march until every last one of you are with us or dead," Ataurus spat.
" We're just following orders, Imperial," the elf responded.
" If that is true, why did you not disagree?! These are civilians you killed," Ataurus shot back. The elf lay speechless.
" Just leave me," he finally said, as if he didn't care. Ataurus chuckled and shook his head. He pulled out a rusty iron sword he picked up, and plunged it into the elf's arm, cracking through the ground. He then spun and walked away, while the elf screamed in agony.
" Was that really necessary?" Raccan asked.
Ataurus pointed at the bodies all around them. " He did this. And you want me to show mercy?" Ataurus replied.
Raccan shrugged.
" There's the prison," Surobus said, pointing to the groups left. They turned towards the door, and stepped into the walkway leading to the prison. Two Thalmor stood there, holding position.
" Imperials!" one yelled, running at the group. FUS RO DAH! The elf shot back, terrified. The other elf dropped his weapon, and dove off of the walkway, onto the ground below, and ran. Surobus dashed to the fallen soldier and stabbed him in the chest. The group sheathed their weapons and walked inside the Prison District.
The second the trio stepped inside, they were surrounded with more than two dozen Thalmor soldiers, armed with longspears. Two Justicars came down the steps from the prison, and looked at the three.
" Stand down," one of them said. The Thalmor were confused, but began shouldering their weapons.
Ataurus breathed out, and asked, " What's going on? Are you not going to attack?" The two Justicars shook their heads.
" Come with us," one said, motioning for them to follow. The Justicars went into the prison, with the trio following, and the soldiers behind them. Inside the prison was the jailors desk, with two chairs behind it, and three facing it.
" Sit down," a Justicar asked. The three reluctantly sat.
" As you know, your empire is collapsing," a taller, older one said, before Ataurus butted in with, " I can contest that. Three of us just smashed your entire army inside the city."
The Justicar held up his finger, then continued, " But you should know that the Aldmeri Dominion is willing to accept a formal surrender. You, and all of your generals shall be granted estates in Valenwood AND the Summerset Isles. You will also be given positions in our army when we invade Akavir."
Ataurus simply began laughing. The Justicars faces went foul.
" Do you honestly think that I would fall for such a trick?" Ataurus chuckled.
" This is no trick," the younger Justicar snapped.
" And what exactly are you?" the older one added.
Ataurus rose an eyebrow, and then stood. " I am the Last Dragonborn. I recommend that you lay down your arms," he said to the Thalmor soldiers.
" Prove it," the younger one said. YOL TOOR SHUL! The young Justicar was thrown back, in flames. He screamed, and then fell on the ground, crackling. The Thalmor soldiers threw down their spears and began taking off their armor.
The last Justicar gulped, and cried, " Don't kill us!" Surobus rose and asked, " Where is your pitch?" The Justicar shakily pointed behind him, down a hall to an open hatch.
" How many are down there?" Raccan asked.
" I don't know. Over a hundred," the Justicar responded. Surobus strode to the back, and picked up a barrel. It was heavy, and had black liquid in it. Surobus tilted the barrel and let the pitch pour into the hatch.
" What is that?" a light voice cried.
" By the Eight, it's pitch! Get out! Go!" another elf cried.
After the barrel was empty, Surobus lit a match and tossed it in, closing the hatch. The pitch immediately ignited, catching the elves on fire. They screamed for help, but none came. Surobus sat back down, and coughed. The older Justicar sat, horrified.
" We surrender!" he finally said.
Ataurus nudged his head towards the door, and said, " We will escort you to the palace, and will let the Council decide your fate."
The Justicar got up, and began for the door, his men following. Ataurus, Raccan, and Surobus followed, leaving the prison which Surobus had been freed from from centuries ago.
Walking back through the Market District, Ataurus pointed at all the dead civilians, and glaring at the Justicar. They came to the soldier Ataurus found earlier, who was still croaking for air. He stopped, and led the Justicar to him.
" What.. what are you doing, Justicar?! This... this is their Emperor!" the soldier gasped.
The Justicar nodded, and said, " I know. We are surrendering. For now." King Raccan walked over, and stabbed the soldier in the head, finishing him off.
They led the surrendered Thalmor to the Palace, where the Imperial Guard held firm. " We have prisoners!" Surobus yelled.
The Captain faced them, and said, " What do you want us to do?" Ataurus glanced at the Thalmor, and then said, " Send them to the Elven Gardens. Set up a temporary camp there." The prisoners were escorted to the district. The Guard turned to face their Emperor, who looked uneasy.
"For the Empire!" Ataurus cried.
" For the Empire!" the Guard roared.