Chapter 13 - Escape From the Ratway
Govegein turned and ran back into Esbern's room. "We have company."
"I knew it, you lead the Thalmor straight to me!" Esbern shouted.
Raddin walked out of the room, "Just follow behind us, we will handle the Thalmor."
Raddin circled around the courtyard, going down the stairs, while Govegein jumped down and landed in front of the armored Altmer. Govegein drew his axe and cut the Altmer's leg, causing the startled elf to fall and release Tar'zuk. Frost grew from the gash and Tar'zuk hid in the hallway beyond. Raddin met the Justicar at the stairs, using his shield to fend off blasts of electricity. The shock spell licked at his arm through the shield. When it stopped, Raddin looked over the shield to find his adversary with a bound sword. It would take some time to recover enough magic to deal any real damage with spells, now he only had to worry about the sword.
Govegein looked at his opponent, the elf had just finished healing his leg with a spell and was getting up, two bound swords in his hands. Govegein smiled and drew his sword. Spinning the blades in his hands, Govegein sparred with his Altmer foe. Behind him, Govegein heard Raddin Shout "Feim". Raddin had turned ethereal as the Justicar's attacks passed through him. A wail sounded as Raddin's battle axe tore the high elf's chest apart. "What are you doing Govegein? Just finish him already," Raddin impatiently said.
Govegein danced around his opponent. "I was just having some fun. I haven't fought with any Aldmer in such a long time, killing one of these cheap copies is as close as I can get." He cut a quick X in the soldier's armor with his axe, the metal freezing at the touch of the blade. With his sword, he stabbed straight through the breastplate, shattering the quick-frozen metal. Govegein sighed, "It's just not the same."
"Impressive, but the Thalmor will have more troops following these two," Esbern said, "We had better start on our way." He pushed the two adventurers into the hallway.
Tar'zuk approached Govegein, "You have saved this one's life, this one is now in your debt."
"Then repay your debt by helping us out of these sewers," Govegein said, handing the Khajiit the Gloves of the Pugilist. "Take these, when you wear them, you will hit people even harder than you ever have before." Tar'zuk looked at them, then looked at his claws. He tied the gloves around his wrists, hoping the enchantment would still work. "I am going to want those back later," Govegein said. The Khajiit nodded and the four entered the Ratway Vaults.
The barred room they entered was covered in oil, and a Justicar stood, startled on the other side of the bars. Before she could light a fire spell in her hands, Tar'zuk was on her. His claws were wreathed in a red fury that was not entirely blood. The glove's enchantment worked wonders, but did not stop the Justicar's screams. The other agents ran towards their screaming comrade. Justicars lined the upper tiers and soldiers poured into the small courtyard.
"That's more like it," Govegein said, old instincts flaring. They used tactics similar to what he had seen in ages old battles. "Esbern, light the room behind us, then use it for cover when the oil runs out. Raddin, protect him and handle these foot soldiers. Tar'zuk, you're with me, we are going to take out those casters." Govegein ran past the Thalmor soldiers and into the spiraling rooms. Cutting down the occasional soldier and atronach, he weaved through the rooms. Finally he made it to the first landing.
Checking on his companions, Tar'zuk was right behind him and Esbern was inside the barred room, burning anyone who got too close. It seemed that Esbern had also conjured a Flame Atronach to help him and provide cover fire, literally, for Raddin. Raddin was holding his own with the Thalmor, blasting some away with his voice as he focused on others. What Raddin lacked in battle prowess he made up for with his Thu'um.
Turning back towards his targets, Govegein smiled at the startled Justicars. They hadn't planned on someone running past their troops to fight with the mages. They had barely even planned on the Dragonborn defeating their advance team. The pride of the Aldmer had been passed down to the Altmer. Tar'zuk cut through Justicars left and right, his enchanted claws tearing through cloth and flesh alike. Govegein tore the survivors in his own way. Frost crept from gashes left by the war axe while fire ate at the flesh cut by Govegein's sword. The two danced through the scene of fire, ice, and blood.
"You're stance is reminiscent of the Whispering Fang technique," Govegein said, decapitating another Justicar.
"Oh, you know the Whispering Fang?" Tar'zuk said in surprise.
"I saw it as a child, I have a knack for fighting styles." He waved Tar'zuk over and they picked up a dazed Justicar. The two carried him over to the ledge and begun to swing him. As Raddin knocked back another soldier, Govegein and Tar'zuk threw the Justicar to the lower level. The dazed Altmer fell on top of the soldier who was knocked back. "What are you doing Raddin? Just finish them already." Tar'zuk snickered at the comment.
"Why don't you try fighting off this many people at once?" Raddin shouted from below.
"I have, it's not that difficult." In fact he had killed more than that in an instant. Sure he still had access to insanely destructive magic then, but the fact still stands.
"He's right, even with my support, this is taking a while," Esbern said from behind bars.
"You too Esbern, really?" Raddin complained as he finished off the last soldier.
Govegein looked down from his perch, "That should be the last of them, let's go back to the Ragged Flagon." Raddin and Esbern walked through the doorway below Govegein. A few moments later, they joined him and Tar'zuk. The four moved through the winding passageway back to the underground tavern.
The four ragtag adventurers were met with stares of disbelief as they entered the bar area. "You lads actually made it back alive?" Brinjolf said.
"We took bets after those Thalmor thugs pushed their way through here," a blond Nord woman said. She tossed a small pouch of coins towards Etienne.
A bald man sitting across from her said, "How in Oblivion did you make it out of there? These two must be blessed by Nocturnal or something to be that lucky." He waved his hands in the air for emphasis then tossed another pouch towards Etienne.
"Truth be told, lads, I thought ol' Tarz here would stab you in the back and rob you blind," Brinjolf said. He laughed as he tossed a rather large gold pouch towards Etienne.
The Breton smiled, pulling in his loot, "You've just never seen these two in a fight."
Govegein pushed Raddin and Esbern out of the Tavern as the thieves laughed. He turned around and took the gloves from Tar'zuk, Brinjolf's sword, Dirge's boots, and various other items from the other guild members. Before they could react to this heavily armored thief, Govegein took the large sack of coins that Brinjolf had bet and fled the tavern. "Thieves should keep better track of their loot, don't you think?" He said, sprinting away. Laughter rose up from Etienne and Tar'zuk as Govegein entered the Ratway.
Affraba paced up and down the dock. She shifted the knife from one hand to the other. The Thalmor had been very persuasive when they picked her up for the job. They needed someone who looked inconspicuous, but would not be questioned. A Khajiit in Skyrim was perfect, if she got caught no one would bat an eye.
The Thalmor came in the middle of the night, killed the guards and taken the merchants. When she awoke, Affraba was tied to a chair in a dark room. Across from her stood a Thalmor Justicar, fire dancing through his fingers. He offered her a deal, kill whenever and whoever they asked, or end up like the others. Torches lit, illuminating the gruesome scene around her.
Affraba's whiskers twitched at the memories. That was a long time ago, she had pulled off several assassinations for the elves, and this one would be no different. She only had to kill the man who came out of the Ratway. Everything was going smoothly she only had to wait. Then three men came out of the door. The first was in studded armor with an iron helmet, he seemed to be a small threat but no one for the Thalmor to send a kill order on. The second was in miner's cloths, no threat there. The third stood in gleaming black armor and held various random items, this must be the target, rich enough to be an annoyance, but dumb enough to not need a professional assassin.
The Khajiit moved towards the three, knife shining in the sun.
Stepping out of the Ratway, Govegein saw a Khajiit woman pacing the docks. She was watching him and his companions, a steel knife shifted in her hands. She moved towards him the knife moving for his chest. He tossed his pile of stolen thief gear at her, stunning the cat. He then knocked her out by hitting the back of her head.
"Probably hired by the Thalmor to kill one of us, have either of you angered any high ranking agents?" Esbern said.
Raddin shifted. "Yeah she was probably sent for me. I really embarrassed Elenwen at her party," he said looking at the ground.
"What did you do?" Govegein asked while he tied the assassin's hands and feet.
"I don't want to talk about it. What are you doing?"
"No one tries to kill me unscathed," Govegein said, hoisting the Khajiit by her feet. He hung her over the water.
"You are the most evil person that I have ever met," Esbern said. They left the woman and the city of thieves behind as the trio set off for Riverwood.
The Day will soon be upon us, the stars are aligning and the portal will soon open. In three days I will go, but I shall return. Unspeakable horrors await me, yet I will prevail.
Anyway, I'm thinking of some bigger changes for the latter half of the story which will result in even larger changes down the road. We'll see how this goes.