Rising Darkness

by Shroudedpanther

Skyrim doesn't know it yet, but the final battle to decide its fate is swiftly approaching, and only the faction leaders can band together and stop this threat before it's too late. Meanwhile in Blackreach, a vengeful elf forms a conglomerate army for one purpose: to render Tamriel a pile of bloody ashes in the name of the Daedra. Elder Scrolls belongs to Bethesda. Much action.

21. Ch 21: Skyrim - Fall of Reach

21

"If quick, I survive. If not quick, I am lost. This is 'Death'." - Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Auxiliary Gannul "Helix" Partus

2nd of Sun's Dusk, 4E 204

The Reach, Skyrim. 0416 hours.

"I think it's safe to say that the Forsworn have returned!" yelled Tally as he ducked beneath the blows of a wild looking warrior. Helix brought up his new crossbow and put a quarrel through the Forsworn that was harassing Tally.

The Wood Elf nodded in thanks. Then his dark eyes widened and, with a fluid movement, he drew another arrow out of his quiver and sent an arrow just over Helix's shoulder. The Forsworn that had been running up from behind him hit the ground hard.

Legate Kaius danced past, blocking blows from a feral Breton until he saw an opening. The poor Forsworn didn't have time to comprehend what had happened; one moment, his head was firmly attached to his shoulder, and the next it was sailing into the Karth River.

Four more Forsworn warriors advanced on them, barbed swords held above their heads. Helix had reloaded by then, and his crossbow dropped one of the warriors. Tally's arrow took another in the chest, and the woman wheezed before skidding across the cobbled road with a trail of crimson in her wake.

An icicle cast by Serana whizzed by and caught a Forsworn in the shoulder. The savage staggered forward and threw himself bodily at Helix, hoping that his momentum would allow him to stab the Vanguard soldier. Helix tensed, forcing himself to time his counterblow just right. He used the butt of his crossbow to club the oncoming Breton in the head, snapping the man's neck back.

"Briarheart!" cried Serana. Sure enough, a mean looking Breton was tearing down the hill above them. He threw a fireball at Blaze, who instinctively threw up a magical ward. The fireball dissipated harmlessly across her barrier.

"He's mine." The Chief stepped in front of them and braced himself as if to let the Briarheart crash into him. Helix, Tally, Apex, Vortex, Blaze, and Serana readied their weapons, ready to back the Chief up, which of course was unnecessary.

The Briarheart held a crudely made axe in one hand and magic in the other. He pushed off the steep hill, flying through the air to kick the Chief. Kaius knelt at the last moment and the Breton flew over his head, bounced off the road, and slid into the river.

The Chief unlimbered his crossbow and trained it on the river, waiting for the Briarheart to surface. The moment he did, Legate Kaius shot him. The quarrel exploded upon impact in his gut and zapped the river with electricity. The Forsworn writhed and collapsed onto shore, one hand holding closed the gaping, blackened hole in his stomach.

It was clear he was already dead. His mortal wounds should have already incapacitated him, and would have if he were any other man. But whatever foul magic the Hagravens implemented kept him going. His fist grabbed a gnarled Juniper tree. He pulled himself forward, still going for the Chief. The vicious snarl on his face didn't waver.

The Chief stood tall above him, a solid edifice meant for war. He flipped the Briarheart onto his back with a boot. The Briarheart's hand reached for his leg. The Chief bent over.

Helix winced as Kaius' fist forced its way into the Forsworn's chest cavity, snapping the ribs that lay over where the heart should have been. Instead, the Forsworn's heart had been removed and replaced with a large red and green thorn meant to increase his power.

The Chief seized the briar heart and yanked it out of the Forsworn's chest, which killed the Briarheart immediately. The Chief clenched the thing in his fist as if to crush it, but Serana cried, "Wait! Can you give that to me? I want to study it." Kaius cocked his helmet quizzically at her, but handed the briar heart over.

Tally had nimbly jumped up onto a small boulder next to the road. He looked all around them, scanning the hills with elven eyes. Satisfied that there were no more hostiles, he called "Clear!" to the rest of them. Helix helped the Chief do a quick search of the Forsworn's corpses, but they didn't even have pockets to keep things in. Helix was glad that the Redguard mage named Falion had taken his leave and gone off into the wilderness; He didn't want to have to do any more babysitting.

"I was beginning to think we could make it the rest of the way to Markarth without another incident," grumbled Blaze.

"We need to move," said Apex. "The other Forsworn must be on our trail."

"This is the third ambush we've tripped," remarked Tally as they hurried along the road. "You'd think they'd be making more of an effort to destroy us."

The Chief shook his head. "The real threat hasn't caught up to us yet. These ambushes were set up before we even entered the Reach. They weren't intending to catch us in their snares."

Helix whipped around at the sound of a twig snapping near the road. His crossbow sights were instantly up and scanning. A moment later he breathed a sigh of relief as a small fox trotted into view. "By Akatosh, little fellow. I almost shot you!" The fox regarded him with a slightly curious look, small jaws parted to smell the Imperial. Helix smiled slightly and trotted to catch up with his squad.

Serana was tilting the briar heart from side to side, examining it professionally. Helix nudged her. "What's so interesting about that thing?"

Serana raised her eyebrows at him. "This 'thing' is able to reanimate the Forsworn through dark magic. Some of a Briarheart's enhanced power comes from the fact that they are partially undead. I'm trying to figure out what in the alchemical properties of this thing gives the Briarhearts their strength."

"Careful," grinned Tally. "Too many big words. Helix is gonna start snoring."

"Bugger off!"

"Gentlemen." Kaius rumbled at them in warning.

They walked on in silence, wary of another ambush laid by the savage Reachmen. Throughout the trip, the STF had passed the village of Karthwasten and many other landmarks, but didn't stop to admire the scenery.

Finally, after Masser and Secunda had risen to gleam above their heads, the city of Markarth came into view. Helix paused to take in the spectacular city. Markarth looked as if it was made of gold and marble. The dwarven metal and white stone that composed the structures shone coldly in the moonlight like sculptures of ice.

Helix glanced behind them again. He had been acting as rear guard the entire trip, and wasn't about to relax until they were inside the city proper. The shadows were still, so he followed his comrades up to the front gates of Markarth. To his surprise, only one guard was up on the walls, with another standing with his arms crossed in front of the great metal doors.

The guard unnecessarily held out an arm. "Halt. Who goes there?"

Apex stepped up to him. "Greetings, kinsman. We are soldiers of the Legion, here on Imperial business."

Apparently that was good enough for the guard because, with one more glance over their odd party, he turned to the doors and gave them a shove inwards. "Go on in. But watch yourself, legionnaires. Don't stir up trouble in Markarth."

"Wouldn't dream of it," said Tally, imitating the heavy Nordic accent.

Helix lowered his crossbow once they got inside the gates. He unloaded it and slung it across his back, replacing the quarrel in a quiver around his waist. His commanders seemed to know where they were going. They strode up the empty streets in the early morning hours, pausing at an inn on the corner.

The Chief bent closer to Apex. "Captain, take control of your squad. Serana and I will be in Understone Keep tomorrow morning with further orders. Carry on!"

Apex snapped a tight salute, which Kaius returned before making his way up to the Jarl's palace with his vampire companion. Apex looked at his men and woman. "Good news, people: we'll have an actual bed to sleep on… At least for a few hours. I expect you all up in Understone Keep no later than 0830 hours. You're dismissed."

Despite this order, they all trooped in to the Silver- Blood Inn together and ordered rooms. Tally requested extra blankets for his bed.

"What do you want those for?" Helix asked.

Tally patted him on the cheek mockingly. "First time to Markarth, eh? Here's a heads up. Everything is made of stone. Even the beds."

Blaze looked at him with something akin to horror. "You mean I just walked out of the wilderness for a bed only to find it cold and hard? We might as well have stayed in the hills!"

Tally winked at her. "Your bed needn't be cold if I'm in it, comrade. Although, you would still have the hardness problem…"

Blaze rolled her eyes and snorted. "Ha! I'd rather sleep with the Forsworn."

At this, the innkeeper flinched. "What the blazes do you think you're doing, dimwits?" he hissed. "You can't just go around tossing that word everywhere! You'll start a mass panic that way! Leave! To bed with you all!"

Each trooper went to their rooms and collapsed on the stone beds, glad to be in the city. Helix sighed and laced his lands behind his head. In spite of their complaints, he knew his fellow squad members would take uncomfortable sleeping arrangements any day over being out in the wilds with the Forsworn always an arrow's length away… Gannul Partus drifted off to sleep, haunted by the image of the Briarheart's ferocity.

A loud knock on his door jolted him out of sleep. Helix sat up, breathing hard. After he realized that there were no Briarhearts around at the moment, he got up and got dressed in his brown Imperial leathers, steel chainmail, and red cape emblazoned with the Imperial dragon. The cape was standard issue for Vanguard soldiers, and Helix wore it with pride.

In the common room, the rest of his companions were already up and eating breakfast. "Wha' Time is it?" yawned Blaze, scratching her nest of untidy hair.

Tally, who was looking quite chipper with his feet up on the table said, "Let me just use the convenient sundial… Oh, there is no sundial in here? How about another timepiece… No? Well, then I'm afraid I can't help you, Miss Blaze."

She gave him a dirty look and went to go get some watered down wine. Apex, who was just finishing up his breakfast, spoke to Blaze as she returned. "I looked outside earlier. It should be around 0800 hours."

"I wonder if I have time to bathe," mused the High Elf.

"Only if you get a move on," the squad leader told her. "I'm not waiting on your arse to finish 'beautifying' yourself. Don't forget," he added with a pat on her shoulder as he left the table, "You're not one of the spoiled Thalmor anymore."

The man known as "Apex" went back to his room while the others finished their breakfasts. The Argonian spoke up. "Vortex supposes he could use some water too."

"Sure you could!" cackled Tally. "You're starting to look more like dried lizard leather."

As usual, Vortex ignored him and went on examining his forearms. "The good thing about being Argonian," he said to Helix, "is that when it gets wet, the dirt just floats off our Hist skin."

"That's a little more than I wanted to know," said Helix with a good natured grin.

"Hey, since you're sneaky in water, maybe you could sneak up behind Blaze and scare her!" said the Wood Elf.

"Tally…"

"Yes?"

"Shut up."

Less than a half hour later, the STF was making its way up to Understone Keep, where Kaius and Serana were waiting just inside the doors.

"Right this way," said the hulking Imperial.

"A 'good morning' would be nice," said Tally. No one answered him.

They went into the left wing of the palace where the court wizard, Calcelmo, was scrutinizing some papers. The Special Task Force had to pick their way around large piles of rubble through the hallway.

"I guess the Jarl is too busy to take care of his keep?" said Blaze, stepping daintily over a large rock.

"Or maybe he's too busy defending his city from the Forsworn to worry about trivial things like that," observed Helix.

"I wouldn't say he's doing the best job with that, either."

The Chief led them past the wizard who nodded in greeting, and up a dwarven overpass. "This is the Nchuand- Zel Excavation Site," explained the Chief. "Jarl Igmund had allowed us to use the site for interrogation. It's more… Private this way."

Helix exchanged a concerned glance with Tally. Suddenly a shriek echoed off the stone walls and dissolved into gibberish. Helix forced himself not to reach for his crossbow. He didn't want the others to think he was inexperienced, but interrogation had never been his favorite part of the Legion.

He understood the necessity, of course, but Partus disliked causing pain to a helpless person unless it was in the thick of battle. Something felt… Wrong about it. Torture and coercion seemed to whittle away at both the victim and the interrogator, reducing both to shells of their former selves. In the case of the questioner, it made good men into something sadistic and cold-blooded.

A young woman walked out of a side passage, wiping her hands with a greasy rag. "Who's there? You're not supposed to be in— Hey!" she exclaimed in delight, seeing who it was. "I was beginning to think you all wouldn't make it! Well met, my friends!"

"Good to see you, Sorine," said the Chief with unexpected warmth. The woman, Sorine, gave Serana a hug and shook the rest of the Task Force's hands.

"Right this way. The others have been waiting to see you!"

"How many other members of the Task Force are there?" asked Helix.

Sorine seemed to see him for the first time. "Ah! A new addition, Legate Kaius? Wonderful! What's your name, friend?"

"Auxiliary Gannul Partus, ma'am. Callsign 'Helix'."

Sorine laughed. "Then you needn't call me 'ma'am', Helix. I'm an Auxiliary too. I suppose Auxiliary Sorine "Prysm" Jurard is my official title. I was part of the Dawnguard for a while, but I wanted to adventure more, and Legate Kaius told me that I'd probably get to explore some Dwemer ruins under his command, so here I am!" She gestured expansively at the ruins all around them.

Another yell rang out from just ahead.

"How is the interrogation going, Prysm?" asked Apex.

"We're down to the last captive from Reachcliff Cave. So far, their stories have been… unhelpful. They don't match."

"Who's supervising it?" inquired Serana.

Prysm rolled her eyes. "Phantom. You know he likes this crap. I don't enjoy pain, though, so I've been checking out the ruins."

"There's no mudcrabs in here to disrupt your work, then?" said the Chief with a touch of amusement.

Prysm gave him a mock glare. "That was one time, Chief. Being alone in the wilds distracted me!"

By this time, they had reached an average sized room. Rubble lined the walls, as did a half dozen people who were tied up. One of the cannibals was tied to a chair in the center of the room.

A figure in thick black leather stood over him. Between the long robes adorned with a red Imperial dragon, dark gloves and boots, and hood with a featureless silver skull mask, Helix couldn't make out a single part of this soldier's skin save for his blue eyes. Gannul presumed that this was "Phantom", the stealth specialist of the Task Force.

Other squad members were standing around. After greeting Kaius and their friends, the mystery men introduced themselves. As Gannul had predicted, the man with the silver skull mask was Phantom. There was also a gung- ho Redguard called "Ramrod", a Dark Elf named "Scepter", and an Orc known as "Lux".

Helix greeted them all in turn. He felt slightly overwhelmed at all these new teammates, but supposed that in time he would come to know them as well as himself.

"So what have they told you?" asked Apex, getting straight down to business.

Phantom answered with a heavy Imperial accent, "the only thing they all mentioned was a 'Lord Morden'. They think he's a god or something. I'm pretty sure they mean that Daedric bloke from Reachcliff Cave. A couple of 'em also said that Tamriel is gonna be destroyed by Lord Morden and the 'Covenant of the Scourged', whatever the hell that means."

"That's old news, Phantom," cut in Tally. "Their Covenant is the Malustarii, a group made up of every violent thing in Skyrim, from draugr to giants. And yes, they are controlled somehow by Morden."

Phantom nodded. "That bastard is gonna put Skyrim to the torch and then move on to the rest of Tamriel."

"Say again, Phantom," said the Chief, "Morden doesn't want to conquer Tamriel — he wants to destroy it?"

"Confirmed. At least, that's what these man - eating sods said."

"By the Eight…" whispered Blaze. "But where is he going to strike next?"

Phantom shrugged. "That is what we don't know. Personally, I don't think these cannibals were close enough to Morden to know his plans."

Ramrod cleared his throat. "What about what the meat vendor said?"

"What about it?" said Phantom contemptuously. "It was all smoke and riddles. We can't ask him, anyhow. He gave up the ghost right after that."

"What did he say?" asked Serana.

Ramrod snorted. "Mr. Creepy here is right. It made no sense. The meat vendor said 'This is where it began'."

"You said he's dead?" inquired Blaze.

"That's right, princess," said Ramrod. "He's the first and only one to die. Body's over in the corner. It wasn't even us that killed him. This one right here—" he patted the man in the chair, who flinched away.

Ramrod grinned at him. "Hey, don't be scared. You're the one who bites, not me." He looked back up at the STF. "Anyway, this jackass got free of his restraints. Instead of runnin' away, he strangled the meat seller."

Ramrod shook his head. "I'm tellin' you, Chief, something is wrong with these cannibals."

"Gee, what tipped you off?" said Tally.

"Probably the part where they eat other people," said Ramrod, feigning dimness. "But aside from that… They just don't act right. Gotta force 'em to eat, drink… It's almost as unnatural as Tally's foot odor."

Serana stepped up and placed a hand on the prisoner's forehead. The man shuddered but otherwise remained still. Serana closed her eyes and appeared to concentrate. After a few moments, the vampire stepped back and frowned thoughtfully. "There is strong magic on him." She indicated the other prisoners. "Them too."

"Damn," snarled the Orc. "I shoulda known magic would be involved with this."

"It's not conjuration," said Phantom. "I would have known straight off."

"No…" said Serana. "It's Illusion magic. Most of the city has been affected by it."

"What?!" exclaimed all of the STF.

"That's impossible!" said Blaze. "What mage would be strong enough to do such a thing?"

Serana's mouth was a grim line. "Lord Morden, apparently."

The Chief was almost running as they exited the excavation site. "Phantom, you and Blaze remain with the prisoners. The rest of you, follow me. Be on your guard. I have a feeling that we're getting ourselves into something that Morden doesn't want us to discover. Move it!"

The Special Task Force jogged through the halls of Understone Keep, straight up to the throne of Jarl Igmund. There they were stopped by the Jarl's housecarl, who looked bewildered at their haste. Legate Kaius gave Jarl Igmund a short bow before launching into their investigations. When he finished, Jarl Igmund looked totally unaffected.

"That is all you have found?"

Kaius hesitated. "My Jarl, is there anything you can tell me about someone called Morden?"

Helix saw it. Just as the Chief spoke the name, Jarl Igmund's eyes became unfocused. His lips twitched. He mouthed "Lord".

Helix's eye went wide. "Apex, sir!" he whispered urgently. Hadvar forestalled him with a look.

"Relax, Auxiliary, I saw it. You can bet the Chief did too."

"My Jarl…?" The Chief looked tenser now. The shadow vanished from Jarl Igmund's eyes.

"I do not know anyone by the name of Morden. There was Morven, a servant of Nepos the Nose."

"What happened to him?"

"He was killed about three years ago when Madanach escaped from Cidhna Mine with the rest of his supporters. The Thane was with him."

"The Thane? Sir, what Thane?"

Jarl Igmund had become distracted again. His lips moved, but no sound came out. "Thane… He… Helped the Forsworn… Killed Morven and Nepos."

Serana whispered something in the Chief's ear. Her eyes, Helix noticed, had turned a bright green again. The Chief nodded. "Jarl Igmund, who was this Thane?"

Igmund was agitated now. His breathing had become faster. "Elf… Murderer… Savior." The Jarl's curiously blank gaze brightened, like he saw something in the dwarven lights around his throne. "Master…"

Helix was suddenly seized by a thought. To become a Thane, one had to purchase property in the city. The Chief must have realized this too, because he asked, "Jarl Igmund, did this Thane have a residence in Markarth?"

Helix noticed that Jarl Igmund now held the arms of his throne in a death grip. His fingers were startlingly white against the dwarven metal. The Jarl only spoke two words. "Vlindrel Hall."

The Redguard housecarl stepped in front of the throne, her sword drawn. "You are upsetting the Jarl. Please leave."

Her eyes were cloudy, too. By the gods, thought Helix, what is going on here?

They had no choice but to leave. Legate Kaius looked over his shoulder at the end of the hall. "My Jarl, what are we do to with the cannibals?"

"Leave them there. My guards will take them into custody. They will be executed."

Outside Understone Keep, it seemed to Helix that the air was cleaner, fresher. More… Free. Once they were out of sight of the guards in front of the doors, Serana turned to the Chief. "See? I told you. Most of the citizens are under Morden's illusion."

The Chief nodded in agreement. "Ramrod, Lux, fetch Phantom and Blaze from the excavation site immediately. Then meet us down at the markets." They fairly sprinted back into the keep. The rest of the STF walked briskly with the Chief down the many slights of stone stairs to the markets.

Helix glanced at Serana and frowned, realizing something for the first time. "Hey, Serana, why aren't you wearing that hood that you wore in the wilds? I thought sunlight caused you pain, or something."

Serana rolled her eyes. "Don't you think it would be a tad suspicious if I went around with a bag over my eyes? It kind of screams 'vampire'. I just deal with it." Turning to the Chief, she said, "So our next step is checking out Vlindrel Hall, right?" asked Serana.

"Right," answered Legate Kaius. "We need answers. The more we know about Morden, the easier it will be to defeat him."

"Did you see how creepy the Jarl looked back in there?" Tally sounded excited and frightened at the same time.

"Shut it," muttered Apex. "You heard Serana. It's not just the Jarl. It's the whole city. We're walking through a pack of spies. Hey!" he exclaimed as he ran into Serana, who had stopped dead in the middle of the street. "Come on, girl, move it."

The rest of the squad stopped came back to Serana, who was quivering as she stretched out a hand to a door to an abandoned house on the street. "He- He's here…"

"Who?" asked the Chief urgently.

Helix felt a thrill of fear as Serana's eyes turned their usual red- orange. "Molag Bal," she hissed, showing her fangs. Then her eyes turned back to a terrified emerald. "Chief. He's calling to me… Get. Me. Out of here!"

Without another word, the Chief scooped her up and ran down to the market. Helix and the STF followed, hoping desperately that Serana wouldn't turn violent and cause the entire city to attack them. Legate Kaius ran straight past the bewildered merchants, followed closely by his legionnaires.

Once they were in a quiet part of the city, the Chief set Serana down on a boulder. Helix glanced nervously behind them. A few shoppers were still looking at them in curiosity, so the Auxiliary decided to watch their back for the time being.

"What was that back there?" rasped the Chief.

Serana was still shaking. "Molag Bal… He's got a shrine here, in the city. I had no idea until he called to me, just now."

"You gonna be okay?"

"I-
Yes, I'll be fine. Aside from the urge I still feel to kill you all," said Serana with a shaky smile. "But I can control it. It's hardly stronger than the usual urges to feed."

Helix looked back at them and exchanged a concerned glance with Tally. Serana's eyes suddenly darted to his neck. To Helix's horror, she licked her lips.

The Chief rummaged in his pack. "Here. Drink this," he said, handing Serana a bottle. "Look at me. You're going to be fine." Serana nodded, staring deep into the Chief's helmet. Without breaking his hidden gaze, she uncorked the Potion of Blood and drank it.

Lux, Ramrod, Blaze, and Phantom came hurrying around the corner to their group. "What's going on?" demanded Ramrod. "I get the feeling I just missed something important."

"Don't worry about it." Apex told him. "We were just about to go find Vlindrel Hall. Anybody know where it is?"

"I do," said Tally, his gaze serious for once. "I came to Markarth from Valenwood and spent a little time here. Vlindrel Hall is up at one of the highest points of the city. Follow me."

The Special Task Force trailed Tally up what seemed like endless flights of stairs until they were above most of Markarth. The Chief seemed unfazed by the climb, but Helix was panting hard.

"Helix, Phantom: follow me. The rest of you, maintain position outside. Keep a low profile. We don't want any company."

"Wait," said Serana. "You'll need me, too. I can discern the magical signs."

Tally shook his head vehemently and made a throat- slashing motion behind her back to the Chief. But after a moment's hesitation, the Chief nodded. "Alright."

"Then get back." Serana put her hand on the door. A purple light glowed under her hand. Then the light snaked up and down, illuminating runes set into the portal.

"It's unlocked magically but still locked physically. Chief, do what you do best."

Legate Kaius tried the handle swiftly. As the vampire had said, it was locked. Since the background noise from the market was loud enough, Kaius kicked the door open.

As soon as the metal door swung wide, a strong wind rushed out of the house, whipping the troopers' hair around. Helix put a hand out in front of him to shield himself. Inside, it was completely black. No fire was lit and no dwarven lights were on. Not even the sunlight from outside could penetrate the gloom.

Serana's palm lit up. She cast a magical orb of light into Vlindrel Hall. But as the light soared, it flickered and dissolved into shadow. Serana tried again. Like before, the mage light guttered out soon after it left Serana's palm.

"Well, it was worth a shot," Serana muttered. This time she held the mage light in a hand. "What're you waiting for?"

Helix was spurred into action by her words. The Chief, Phantom, and Helix got out lanterns from their packs, lit them, and attached them to their belts. For good measure, Helix also lit a torch. Then they walked cautiously into the Hall. As soon as the last person had entered Vlindrel Hall, the door closed silently. The Auxiliary's heart was going the speed of a racing wolf.

"Tally better not be playing a joke," whispered Helix.

Phantom snorted. "It wasn't him that closed it, lad. There's powerful magic in this house."

Their whispers seemed to travel on their own accord around the room, rebounding off the walls. "Spread out and search for clues. Holler if you see anything."

Are you mad? Helix wanted to scream at him. Splitting up was the last thing he wanted to do. On the floor just inside the Hall was the body of a Markarth guard. Helix noticed with a shudder that its skin looked burnt. The corpse smelled old. He wrinkled his nose in disgust.

They walked down the entrance hall and into a dining area, which was adorned with bones and old blood. Upon the dining table were plates with meat on them, as well as body parts. Human body parts.

"So if this bloke is the same from Reachcliff cave," mused Phantom, "I suppose we know he's a cannibal."

"Not only that, I think he was a vampire," said Serana, examining a bloodstained goblet.

"Poor bastard…" muttered Phantom. The others looked around to see him looking up at a plaque on the wall, the kind that usually held animal heads.

This one displayed a human head.

The head was obviously a Nord. They all crowded around the plaque to read the inscription. It said, Argis the Bulwark. It was Phantom who voiced the question they were all thinking. "Who the bloody hell is that?"

"Unknown." Said the Chief.

"Obviously someone Morden knew," said Serana matter- of- factly. Just like in Understone Keep, the name seemed to have an effect on the surroundings. The black mist seemed to swirl faster around the room, and somewhere, a faint chanting started up. It was in no language known to Helix.

He could barely see across to the other side. The dark vapor swirled into the vague shape of a man in front of Helix. The terrified Imperial brought his crossbow up in front of him. The figure stretched out a finger to touch the end of his weapon. Then the mist dispersed and wafted away.

Suddenly, Helix realized that he was alone. The others had gone into other rooms. The Auxiliary swallowed hard. He chose a room that nobody else had gone into.

"Whoah…"

The room was like a small armory. Or a museum. Many weapon racks adorned the walls with strange looking weapons on them. Helix held his crossbow at his side, studying them all. Before he could look closely, a small shriek cut over the creaking of dwarven machinery and faint chanting.

"By the Blood!"

Helix ran out of the room with his crossbow up, looking left and right. His breathing felt more difficult. Suddenly Phantom appeared from a side room. Apparently he had heard it too. They went into the master bedroom, where the Chief was already at Serana's side. They were both staring into a display case.

"Serana? What is that?"

Phantom and Helix went over to peer into the case themselves. Upon a red velvet cushion sat one of the strangest books Helix had ever seen. Its cover looked sown together from something… Was that skin? He suddenly had the urge to open it and see what was inside.

"Unless I'm mistaken," said Serana in awe, "That is the Oghma Infinium, the Daedric tome of knowledge that belongs to Hermaeus Mora."

"Bloody hell." Whispered Phantom. He reached out a hand for the display case. The moment his finger grazed the glass, a red mist flowed from his hand into the case. The man jerked back and cried out in pain.

Serana chopped an arm down through the red stream and stopped the display case from absorbing any more of his health. She went back to examining the case, barely refraining from touching it. "Fascinating. The spell took your life force and used it to strengthen the case. I would wager that it is nearly indestructible."

"This is bad news," rasped the Chief. "If Morden used this Daedric artifact, he must be even more powerful than we thought."

Helix shifted uncomfortably. There was no mistake. It was without doubt getting harder to breathe, like he was drawing air through a tiny straw. "Er. Are you guys having trouble breathing?"

Serana gave him a sardonic smirk. "I don't breathe."

"Yes, I've noticed it. And it has gotten worse the longer we've stayed in here. I suppose it's another booby trap." Said Phantom.

"It's not only that," said the Chief. "I also feel like… My innards are slowly itching and burning, like they've been left in the sun." He shook off his pain. "We should not linger. What have the rest of you found?"

"Journals," answered Phantom. "Only got a peek at them, and they don't go into very much detail, but they're definitely Morden's." he took out a small journal from his robes. There was a curious symbol on it, in the shape of an upside down horseshoe. Ω

"I found a whole bunch of weapons," reported Helix.

"Let's check them out. Then we'll get out of here."

"Amen to that!"

Gannul showed them into the display room. They seemed just as transfixed by the things as he was. "These are definitely Daedric artifacts," murmured Serana, amazed. "Volundrung, the Sanguine Rose, the Skull of Corruption… How on Mundus did Morden get all of these?"

There was a dwarven shield with what seemed to be mirrors attached to it. Helix ran his gaze over a massive hammer with a square head that looked like it weighed as much as he did. His insides gave an agonizing squirm. It felt like he was being stabbed with a fiery sword. He let out a low groan, but his companions did not hear him.

Phantom was staring into the empty eye sockets of a horned skull that perched atop a black staff. Serana seemed transfixed by a spiky silver mace that glowed with foul green magic. She reached out a hand.

"Serana, no!" the Chief physically pulled her back from the artifact of Molag Bal. To Helix's surprise, she started gasping.

"We need to get out! Now! The Daedric presence… It's too much!" Helix looked down in horror and saw that his skin was blistering.

"Go! Run for the exit! We've stayed too long!" Kaius took Serana by the arm and pulled her along. Phantom and Helix tried to follow, but their legs were uncooperative; it was as if had been turned to jelly. Helix was gasping for breath as he stumbled past the dining table, but his throat felt like it was closing up. Phantom wheezed along beside him.

Something was happening to the mist. It was thickening, coalescing into murky figures that blocked their way and mocked their progress. Phantom and Helix held each other's arms, pulling each other along. Helix heard a tinkle of glass and realized his lantern had shattered, as had Phantom's.

Phantom staggered forward and threw himself into the murky figures, scattering them momentarily. Helix's vision was darkening. His body had stopped working. Now the skin on his arms and face was beginning to crack and bubble with heat.

He was crawling now, but all the light had vanished. His hands hit a wall. The Auxiliary was totally disoriented. Kaius and Serana had disappeared. He stumbled over a body in the darkness. His numb fingers felt the smoothness of Phantom's skull mask.

He grabbed his fellow Imperial under the arms, ignoring the fresh agony that it caused. He dragged him across the floor in total darkness. All he could hear was the mystic chanting and the pounding of blood in his head. Suddenly, Gannul collapsed, his strength finally giving out. Was that the mist, or was there smoke trailing from his body?

Pairs of hands seized Gannul, surely to draw him into Vlindrel Hall forever. He tried to resist, but by now he was close to paralyzed. His body was numb, and yet he could feel it acutely, like his limbs had all fallen asleep.

Light pierced Helix's darkened vision. He could see through tendrils of darkness that wrapped across his eyes, like he was gazing through a splintered seeing- glass at the world. The darkness receded. There was someone over him, shouting. It was a tanned Wood Elf.

"Tally," he murmured.

Tally's face lit up. "Helix! You're gonna be alright, buddy. Here—" He was handed a potion from someone Helix couldn't see. "Drink up." Helix drank. Golden radiance surrounded him as the healing potion did its work. Helix was able to sit up. He looked around breathing in fresh, clean air once again.

It was still day time and the babble of the market stalls drifted up to them. The Chief was leaning heavily on the stone railing. Serana sat on the ground next to him, being healed by herself and Blaze. Phantom lay still next to Helix. The rest of the STF were using their own magic to heal the necromantic warrior.

"Well, that didn't go as planned," said Phantom, who hadn't moved other than to open his eyes.

Helix laughed wearily. "You can say that again."

"That didn't go as planned," Tally grinned.

Vortex sighed. "Look, Tally, when someone says that 'you can say that again', it is not an order to do so."

"But-" Tally tried to argue, but Apex slapped his knee.

"Enough," he said. "Save the argument for later, or you'll be getting to the market the hard way." Tally looked over the stone wall and gulped.

Helix shook his head in amusement. "I'll drink to that!" and he did, tipping the last of the healing potion past his chapped lips.

The air outside the house seemed to be healing the scouting force as well. Their blistered skin recovered until they were able to stand and do everything normally.

"Orders, sir?" asked Apex.

Kaius adjusted his inky helmet. "Let's get down to the market. We should contact the other members of the alliance and tell them what we've found. Then you all are going hunting for some dragon priest masks in Labyrinthian."

Halfway down the flights of steps, their Orc comrade spotted a group of warriors headed for the city. "That can't be good."

"Why so serious, Lux? They're probably quite friendly." Tally predicted.

"Yeah?" Lux growled. "Then why don't you take your skinny behind out and be the first to greet them?"

The Special Task Force held position at the doors of Markarth until they opened, letting in a few dozen Blades. Their leader was a middle aged Nord woman. She saw the Special Task Force and seemed to recognize the Imperial emblems. The woman walked over to them with her helmet under her arm.

"Hello," she said. "You're Imperial soldiers, right?"

The Chief nodded. "Correct."

"I'm Uthgerd the Unbroken, commander of this detachment of Blades. You all will want to come up to Understone Keep with me." She leaned in close. "There is a Forsworn attack imminent."

Tally groaned. "Just when I thought we'd be able to get to an actual assigned objective! Serves me right for being the optimist."

Ramrod motioned him along. "Let's get up to the keep. This is bound to get messy."

Back inside the Jarl's hall, Igmund was taking the news quite badly. There were no more signs of Illusion magic on him, but according to Serana it was because whoever had cast it had ended the spell.

Jarl Igmund massaged his temple with a shaking hand. "So you're telling me that the entire village of Karthwasten is gone, obliterated… And that the Forsworn are headed here next?"

"That is correct. The Grandmaster of the Blades dispatched us to help protect your city."

Jarl Igmund noticed the Special Task Force standing behind Uthgerd. "You there! Legionnaires! Time to show how good you really are. Legate Kaius, I'm putting you in charge of Markarth's defenses." He motioned to another Imperial who was standing off to one side. "Legate Admand, coordinate with your friends."

"Yes, my Jarl," said the bald Legate Admand. He motioned for them to follow him deeper into Understone Keep.

The Chief ordered Tally and Lux to go warn the Markarth guards about the impending attack and stand watch on the walls. The rest of them followed Legate Admand into a room that was obviously used as a command center. A table filled the center with a map of the terrain of Skyrim on it, and other tools were on the shelves.

Legate Admand bent over the table the way Helix had seen countless other officers do. He traced a finger down the miniature Karth River. "If they have just hit Karthwasten, I estimate that it will take about a day for them to get here, provided they use the roads. We should set up roadblocks—"

Helix interrupted him. "Sir, the Forsworn would just go around them. In all the time the Legion has been fighting them, we've found they prefer to cut across the wilds. They've been doing it for years."

The bald officer glared at him. "Mind your tongue, Auxiliary, or I will have you removed."

Helix shrank back. After a moment's consideration, Admand said grudgingly, "You are correct, however. Instead, we'll consolidate our forces here in Markarth. This city is almost impenetrable. If nothing else, we'll outlast them."

"Don't underestimate our enemies, Emmanuel," warned the Chief. "They'll surely have Hagraven magic on their side. We don't know what modifications Lord Morden has enacted on them."

Admand opened his mouth to argue, but seemed to remember that the Chief was the ranking Legate there. Instead, he lowered his head and spread his arms in a gesture of deference. "Then by all means, Legate Kaius, set up our defenses in whatever way you see fit."

Kaius ignored the sarcasm. "What is the state of our defenses?"

"We have over seventy five guards on station. A few more can be called back from the outlying mines and farms. There are wooden barricades as well as dwarven ones in our armories. The armories themselves have just enough weapons to supply us all."

"What about the citizens?"

"The ones in Dryside are wealthy Nordic families," started Legate Admand.

"Dryside?" interrupted Uthgerd.

"It's the stone section of the city," explained Admand. "Where the high levels are. The other section is Riverside which includes the docks, smelter, and Warrens." His gaze darkened. "And in the Warrens live the poor of Markarth. I strongly advise not to give them weapons. They're mostly the native Reachmen. I'm positive that they're spies for the Forsworn, or at least supporters. They'd slit our throats at the first chance."

"We need everybody who can swing a sword," said the Chief. "But you're probably correct, which is why we'll put them at the front of our defenses, just inside the doors. If the Forsworn do manage to break through, it'll be the Reachmen who bear the brunt of their fury."

Helix felt queasy. Not only had the native Reachmen been oppressed and conquered by the Nords, now the Legion was deciding to send them out first against their own countrymen. But then again, this was war. The Legion had to protect its provinces, no matter what the cost… Right?

"Alright, Emmanuel," said the Chief to Legate Admand. "Start setting up the defenses."

"Wait, sir!" interjected Admand. "I forgot to mention that the court wizard and his nephew have a great many Dwemer contraptions they have unearthed. It'd be a good idea if you talked to them and see if they can help us at all."

"Sounds good. Carry on!" The Special Task Force exited the war room and followed the Chief into the left wing of the Jarl's palace, down the same route they had taken to get to the interrogation in the Nchuand- Zel excavation site.

When they reached the vestibule, the court wizard and his nephew were debating about something or other. On a previous visit to Markarth, Helix had met the crotchety old High Elf Calcelmo and his nephew Aicantor. Both were obsessed with the Dwemer Museum they had opened about a year prior. It was quite impressive and attracted visitors from all across Tamriel. But today Helix was hoping their machines could be used for a different purpose: War.

"Calcelmo," called Apex. The High Elf turned and immediately frowned.

"Ah. Just as things start to calm down, the Imperial Legion once again appears to me seeking counsel. For that is why you have come, is it not?"

"It is, Calcelmo. There is a Forsworn army massing near the city, and we were wondering if any of those toys in your museum could help us in the defense."

Calcelmo stroked his short beard with an expression of distaste. "I heard about the Forsworn from a Blade scout not two minutes ago. As for helping you, the relics in my museum are not toys, master Nord. They are great artifacts left behind by the dwarves, and should be treated as such."

Helix pursed his lips. The rest of the STF showed similar signs of impatience. Blaze even tossed her head and rolled her golden eyes.

Calcelmo sighed. "Yes, yes, I suppose I could show you some things that could come in handy."

"Uncle," cut in Aicantor, "Are you forgetting the weapon up in your tower?"

"What? Oh, of course not. We've barely started understanding how to work it, Aicantor!"

"What is this weapon?" inquired the Chief as they headed across Understone Keep for the Dwemer Museum.

It's a stationary crossbow emplacement," answered Calcelmo. "But this is the first of its kind that I've seen. It is extremely heavy and powerful. Shoots bolts as tall as I am!"

"Have you got it working?" asked Apex. He held the door to the museum open for the rest of them.

Calcelmo shook his head violently. "No! You people don't seem to understand that science is a very delicate art! If we were to rush our research, we might end up breaking the only one we have ever found!"

"All right, calm down," had Apex.

They had entered the museum and were walking around the exhibits, looking for anything that could be used as a weapon. The Chief motioned Calcelmo over to a series of glass cases that held various dwarven weapons. "You have the keys, right? Unlock these cases. We'll need them."

Helix heard the Breton, Prysm shout in excitement. "Chief! Come here! You gotta see this!"

Everyone hurried to where Prysm was standing, eyes aglow with the thrill of discovering treasure. In this case, the "treasure" was half a dozen suits of heavy Dwarven armor set up on mannequins.

"Ah, yes," said Calcelmo idly. "One of the highlights of my collection. You wouldn't believe how long it has taken me to collect these."

Helix examined the armor with interest. It was without a doubt some of the heaviest protection he had ever seen. The suits covered a warrior from head to toe in thick, gold colored metal. Helix knew they must easily weigh a hundred pounds each.

He didn't fancy the slowed movement if he were to put it on, but against the Forsworn's crude weapons, the armor would be an impenetrable juggernaut. The Auxiliary suddenly itched to put it all on, even the ugly metal helmet in the shape of a face.

Apparently the rest of the STF felt the same way. They were staring at the suits of armor with gazes ranging from eagerness to reverence. Even the Chief was nodding with approval. "I think we'll take them," he said to Calcelmo, who was clearly reluctant to give away his priceless collection.

"One problem," said Apex. "There aren't enough suits for all of us."

Serana shrugged. "It shouldn't be a big deal. Tally won't want one; they're too cumbersome and heavy for him. I don't really need a suit either."

"Me neither," agreed Phantom. "That's not the way I fight."

"I have this, so I'm covered," said the Chief, examining his ebony gauntlet contentedly.

Aicantor poked his head into the room. "This is not nearly the end, ladies and gentlemen. Follow me."

In another room, Aicantor was standing proudly. He held a short staff made of— surprise surprise— dwarven metal. "This rod uses magic and dwarven technology to control some of their machines. We've unearthed many of their automatons."

"Good," said the Chief. "Put them outside the walls. They will absorb the brunt of the assault."

"I'll carry the rod," volunteered Prysm.

"Very well," Aicantor told the small Breton.

"Now show us this great weapon you were talking about."

"Of course. This way." The two wizards led them through the museum to high above Understone Keep. They passed across a short balcony with a magnificent view of the city and countryside. Though none of the Special Task Force paused to look, they could all see the mass of dirty people milling around the far end of the valley. The Forsworn had arrived.

Through another door was Calcelmo's Tower, which held his sleeping quarters and personal experiments. Tally whistled in wonder. Dominating most of the main room was a gigantic dwarven ballista the size of a mammoth.

"Well, first things first," said Apex. "We gotta move this sucker somewhere where it can fire on the Forsworn army. It isn't doing any good here."

"Not a chance," said Calcelmo. "Last time we moved it, it took half the Markarth Guards."

"There may be another way," mused Blaze. Turning to Calcelmo, she asked, "Is this the only wall separating us from the city?"

"Yes, but what…" Calcelmo trailed off. "What is that?"

Blaze was bouncing one of Virali's explosives in her hand. "I think it's time for a little remodeling."

The Chief nodded. "Tally, go onto the balcony and warn everyone away below us. We don't want the debris hitting them." Tally ran off. The Chief asked Calcelmo how much ammunition he had for the ballista, to which the wizard replied he had three javelin- sized bolts.

Blaze was busy setting up the charge on the wall in front of the ballista. "Chief, you mind telling us what those are?" asked Ramrod.

"Explosives. A gift from the Arch Mage of the College of Winterhold. In fact," he snapped his fingers at Helix, "Hand out a couple of them to each of your squad members. Blaze doesn't need to carry all of them."

Helix caught the large sack Blaze tossed him. Inside were explosives of every variety and magnitude. Someone had conveniently marked each explosive with the power, range, and in some cases, special effects or activation.

The Imperial soldier passed distributed the explosives amongst his brothers in arms, warning them to be careful. Then they backed away because Blaze was ready to detonate the charge. The one she was using was square shaped and somehow stuck to the wall.

Tally entered the door and gave Blaze a thumbs up. Helix put his hands over his ears.

"Clear!" Blaze activated the charge with magic.

An orange and red fireball blossomed inside Calcelmo's Tower. The floor trembled and Helix's ears rang despite his improvised earmuffs. When Helix's eyes could focus again, he saw a jagged hole had been torn in the wall, giving the dwarven ballista a clear view of the city.

Helix went over to the hole and peered out. A drizzle of chunks of stone and wood were just hitting the streets below, accompanied by a cloud of dust. Citizens and guards alike paused to stare up at the hole in Calcelmo's Tower… Destruction before they were even officially under siege. Helix felt dozens of pairs of eyes on him.

He waved sheepishly and ducked back inside. "What now, Chief?"

The Chief addressed the wizards. "Find out how to operate this thing. We'll need it." To his team, he ordered: "We're going to get down to the walls and defend the city."

"What about the suits?" asked Prysm.

The Chief deferred to Apex. After thinking for a moment, Apex cleared his throat. "We'll leave them here unless we absolutely need them."

After the complaints were silenced by Apex, the Special Task Force followed him back down to the marketplace. Hastily constructed walkways spanned the walls. Markarth Guards were stationed atop them, bows ready to fire into barbarian flesh.

Helix saw Tally waving at him on the parapet, so he went to join his Bosmer friend. "How long?" he asked.

"About an hour before their front lines are in range," replied Tally. "What did you find in the Dwemer Museum?"

Helix sighed with longing. "Some absolutely amazing weapons and armor, not to mention the automatons that the court wizards have been hoarding." He gestured to the marketplace. "Look; they're bringing them down now."

Calcelmo and Aicantor were leading a procession of dwarven machines down the streets. They passed through the city gates, and after checking to make sure that the dwarven control rod was working properly, the elven wizards went back inside, where they distributed Dwemer weapons among the guards.

"By the Eight," breathed Tally. "Okay, I see the automatons and the weapons… Where's the armor?"

Helix shrugged. "Apex decided not to use the suits for the time being. He'll probably change his mind if we start to lose."

Tally chuckled. "Well, that is one perk to imminent defeat."

They talked no more, but instead performed the pre- battle rituals of any warrior. Some of the guards recited Nordic prayers, some checked and rechecked their gear, and some just sat in hunched silence, thinking about anything other than the soft thunder of boots coming closer outside the walls.

For his part, Helix sent a quick plea to the Eight Divines to carry his soul to Aetherius if he should die today. Beside him, Tally was inspecting his bow for imperfections. Helix examined his own weapons. He had been supplied with a normal Imperial sword. The handle was strong and the leaf- shaped blade had been honed to razor-sharpness. Resting in a sling on his back was a wooden crossbow. In the sheathe on his mail- covered chest was his Nordic dagger that he had carried for so long.

Helix looked behind him. As the Legates had ordered in Understone Keep, the poorer citizens from the watery section of the city were clustered just inside the doors, ready to receive the enemy. One of them gave him a grin and a wink. Helix felt a cold worm of dread in his belly. They're up to something… But what? I cannot report them for smiling. Perhaps he is just high on Skooma. Disconcerted, he faced the oncoming Forsworn again.

The Forsworn stopped just outside of bow range. Helix could hear a voice from within the crowd saying something. Perhaps a speech. In response, the bald Legate Emmanuel Admand started speaking from a ways down the parapet.

"Warriors of Markarth!" he started. "Today we must defend this great city from the Forsworn savages!" At this, the Reachmen in front of the gate muttered among themselves resentfully. "The enemy does not come to destroy Markarth's walls or buildings, but the people themselves! They wish to kill the innocents who live here! But we, the proud men of Skyrim, will not let that happen. We will drive them back into the hills as oft times before! Today, you prove your worth as Nords! Hyeeeaahhhhhh!"

The defenders cheered with him. Helix saw Ramrod step closer and whisper something in Admand's ear. Admand nodded reluctantly. Ramrod raised his scimitar to the defenders.

"Those Forsworn milk- drinkers want to destroy everything you've worked for! They want Markarth!" he barked. "But we're not gonna let 'em have it! What we will let them have is a bellyful of steel and a pool of their own blood to drown in! ... Am I right, guards?!"

At this, the defenders went wild, banging swords on shields and pumping gloved fists in the air. Some yelled insults at the Forsworn. Helix's brow furrowed as he heard something louder than the cheering. He turned and yelped as he saw the entire host of Forsworn bearing down on the gates. They had waited until the defenders were distracted before charging in silently.

"Sir!" Helix yelled. Legate Admand and Apex heard him and looked to where he was pointing. Since the Chief was just reaching the walls, Legate Admand took control.

"Archers!" he yelled to the men stationed on the walls. "Notch!"

As one, the men fitted arrows into their bows, or in some cases, quarrels into their crossbows.

"Draw!"

Bowstrings drew taught and crossbow handles cocked. The men picked targets among the seething horde of enemies fast approaching the walls. Helix squinted one eye to see better through the metal sights.

"Loose!"

The shafts sped into the fur- clad Forsworn. With so many targets, every arrow and quarrel killed or injured someone. Helix felt momentary satisfaction, but quickly pushed it aside as Legate Admand repeated the order. "Notch. Draw. Loose!"

Volley after volley peppered the barbarians, but soon they had reached the ramparts. The dwarven automatons made short work of any enemy in their path, but the sheer numbers of the enemy was overwhelming them. From within the Forsworn's midst, rickety wooden ladders were propped on the stone walls of Markath. The Forsworn climbed them as quickly as possible. Some of them shot arrows of their own, and as Bretons, many possessed magic that they called forth from filthy fingertips.

"Push them back!" shouted Apex. "Repel the ladders!"

Helix scrambled to the nearest ladder. A Forsworn popped his head up. Helix paused. The Forsworn warrior was young, no more than fifteen winters old. He looked scared stiff, but even as their eyes met, he yelled a shrill battle cry.

Later, Helix thought. If I'm still alive, I'll beat myself up later. He drew back a fist and punched the boy in the mouth, causing him to plunge off the ladder and into the crowd below. Then he seized the ladder's posts and shoved it away.

Forsworn screamed as the ladder, covered in their fellows, came down on their heads. Beside Helix, Tally was loosing arrows as fast as he could, pausing only to grab a fresh quiver leaning against the ramparts.

Phantom shot jets of magic into the Forsworn, causing some to go berserk and attack their allies. Then, after the Forsworn had killed their rogue members and turned away, he would reanimate the corpses, and it began all over again.

To his right, some Forsworn had made it onto the parapet and were holding it so that others could come up. Helix drew his Imperial sword and ran straight for them, snatching up a broad Imperial shield as well.

The Forsworn saw him coming and swiped, but Helix dove under the first savage's feet, tripping him off the walkway and onto the blades of the guards waiting below. Helix came up in a crouch with his shield in front of him. The Forsworn's axes hit the shield, and before they could recover, Helix attacked. He stabbed one of them just under the ribs, then slashed another's neck open.

Unfortunately, his attacks left him open to the last Forsworn warrior. Even as he brought his shield around to block the attack, he knew that it not be fast enough. An arrow hit the savage squarely in the heart. They both looked at the wooden shaft protruding from his chest. Then he fell backward.

Glancing back, Helix smiled at Tally, who was already firing at someone else. The Auxiliary used his shield to bash a Forsworn who had reached the top of the ladder. Like before, he shoved the ladder away from the walls.

Something bright and orange sizzled towards him. Helix dove behind the bulwark and gritted his teeth. The fireball hit the wall and exploded, sending a shower of pebbles and dust over his head. The wooden walkway shuddered from the impact.

Fear of falling to the street was a small concern, but it elevated his already sky- high adrenaline. Despite the constant peril, Helix smiled. Fighting was terrible, but he couldn't deny its attraction. It was so… Invigorating.

Perhaps that was why so many wars were fought, not because of the failure of negotiations, but because everyone liked the feeling of it.

Helix sprang up and used his crossbow to send a bolt in the general direction of the fireball caster. Then he scooped up his sword and shield and ran back to another ladder that no one was covering. As soon as a Forsworn warrior would reach the top, Helix stabbed them.

A Forsworn shaman came into view on the ladder. Helix raised his sword, but she had learned from her predecessors. She kept out of his reach and charged an ice spell in her hands. Helix shrugged internally. He didn't have to spar with her. He shoved the ladder away. The shaman screamed in rage. As the ladder tipped backward, she fired an ice spike at him.

Helix's block was delayed, and the spike sunk into the wood at the very edge of his shield. He staggered back but kept his feet. The shield worried him. This was the first of many hits it would take, and he hoped not to destroy it too soon.

At another ladder, a pair of guards were grappling with three Forsworn. Helix knelt and reloaded his crossbow. As he steadied the sights on the group, he saw that it would be a risky shot. The closest guard and Forsworn had each other by the shoulders and were shoving back and forth. Helix let fly.

The quarrel actually punched through the Forsworn's neck and buried itself in the chest of the warrior at the rear! As the two guards finished off the last savage, they turned to look for their savior. They saw Helix in his bloodstained Imperial mail and matching cape. He nodded cordially and turned to go.

He heard two screams behind him. He spun around and raised the crossbow instinctively. A Forsworn Briarheart was standing on the parapet, holding two bloodstained steel swords. The bodies of the guards were at his feet. From the marketplace below them, someone shot at him, but to Helix's amazement, the barbarian actually deflected the arrow with a swipe of his swords!

Helix marched forward, ignoring the arrows and magic that whizzed by his head. His shield was raised, his sword ready to stab. The Briarheart screamed, "Now the Reach will be ours!"

Helix absorbed the hammering of dual swords on his shield. Then the Briarheart seized the lip of the shield and wrenched it away. That also left him completely exposed. Helix used the momentum provided by the attack and sunk his sword deep into the man's belly.

The Briarheart coughed once. He dropped one sword and seized Helix's with his free hand. Slowly, he began pulling the sword out of his stomach. Helix helped him along by wrenching the sword out and swiping at the Briarheart's neck, hoping to decapitate him.

The Briarheart deflected the blade with his own. Helix shield bashed the Forsworn's face. As his enemy reeled, Helix stabbed towards the small briar heart in the space between the Forsworn's exposed ribs. His sword made a sickly sound, and the Briarheart sagged to his knees. Helix could see green liquid trickling out from the briar heart.

As he was wiping his sword off on the dead Briarheart's furry kilt, Helix heard shouting in the street below him. He knelt and peered over the walkway. For some reason, the citizens of Riverside were fighting with the guards around them. Helix frowned. What in Oblivion… His mouth fell open in shock as he saw the gate.

The Reachmen weren't fighting the gaurds. They were trying to keep them away as others worked to hack away the boards holding the Markarth gates closed. They were trying to let the Forsworn in.

"Tally!" he shouted, but the elf had already seen. He was firing at the Reachmen who were working on the gates, as were most other archers up on the walls.

"Son of a..." Helix muttered. He was right above the Reachmen now. "Tally! You reckon it's time to try out those explosives?"

Tally nodded and grinned in response. "Better late than never!"

Helix took one out of his waist pouches. The label read Area Ice effect. Blast radius is approximately equal to a large frostbite spider. Squeeze to activate. Helix shrugged. "Fire in the hole!" He squeezed the charge hard in one fist and dropped it in the center of the Reachmen. He and Tally stepped back and covered their faces.

There was a sound like a winter wind hissing across the tundra. A blast of cold air made Helix wince. When he opened his eyes, he almost chuckled in delight. The magical weapon had caused a flower- like pattern of large icicles to grow around it.

Some of the Reachmen had been impaled by the rapidly expanding ice and now lay limp on the frosty spears, their insides freezing. Others appeared to have been absorbed by the blast and were immobile due to ice covering their bodies.

Helix's mirth turned to disapproval as he saw movement at the gates. The Reachmen had almost cut through the entire barricade. Even now, one man who had been spared by a fellow taking the brunt of the blast was frantically chopping the last board into splinters.

On the other side of the wall, the Forsworn were hitting the gates with a battering ram. Helix slithered off the walkway, trying to reach the lone man before-!

The gates seemed to explode inward. The traitorous citizen was blown backwards by the force and the sudden appearance of a mob of angry Forsworn. Helix stopped cold in the center of the ice ring. He was now between the first wave of Forsworn and the pikes of the defenders.

A crossbow bolt passed him and hit the Forsworn, causing a large explosion. Their shouts of fury turned to shrieks of pain as something huge and black appeared next to Helix. "Follow me!" ordered the Chief.

Helix ran after his rescuer, but to his surprise, Kaius stopped near the wall near the doors. "Huh?" asked the Auxiliary.

Serana jogged up from nowhere. "The guard's defensive line doesn't cover this extreme angle. I thought we could give them a hand."

The Forsworn had recovered from the explosion and streamed past them. Helix and the Chief loaded their crossbows and Serana prepared destruction magic. They all let fly at once, catching the Forsworn from the side.

The front lines of the invasion force were having a tough time getting a foothold in Markarth. Guards and armed militia engaged them from the front, while Tally, Phantom, and others fired on them from above. The Chief was sending every special crossbow bolt he had into the horde, and Helix was fast running out of explosives.

Then an inhuman screech from the center of the Forsworn echoed off the stone buildings. It could only mean one thing: Hagravens. Helix gulped and tried to spot the monstrosities, his crossbow tracking all around. A massive fireball zoomed out from the Forsworn and sent two dozen defenders airborne like short- lived comets.

Smaller firebolts hit the wooden archer walkway and blew sections of it to splinters. Tally had to dive to the side to avoid having his boots roasted. A few Hagravens hobbled to the front of the Forsworn line, each one being guarded by two Briarhearts.

The Hagravens were awful creatures, like skeletal women with birdlike features and limbs. Black feathers grew sparsely on their sickly looking flesh. They screeched in anger and cast dark magic at the Markarth guards.

The defenders began to retreat up the streets, clearly intimidated by the fiends. "Target the hags!" said the Chief.

"You think?" asked Serana sarcastically. Her ice spike grazed a Hagraven's side, while the Chief aimed his crossbow at the cobblestones under them, blowing them off their feet. Helix hit a Briarheart in the head with his crossbow bolt and watched in satisfaction as the man fell and did not get up again. Not even those bastards can shrug off a headshot, he thought.

Some of the Forsworn had taken offense at this and charged the three of them. "This way." Said the Chief. He led them up a flight of steps to an elevated causeway which ran parallel to the street below. There was no railing here. "Watch our back, Helix," ordered the Chief.

Helix slung his crossbow and pulled out his sword and shield. The Forsworn were eager to avenge their Briarheart leaders and ran down the stone path, yelling bloody murder. Helix glanced behind him. Kaius and Serana were busy sniping the Forsworn from above. It was up to him to protect them.

Meanwhile, Apex and the other members of the Special Task Force were still fighting the Forsworn on the wooden walls. Then Helix saw Apex motion to them, and they followed their Captain toward Riverside, out of the thick of the battle.

The first Forsworn warrior reached him. He blocked the opening strike; shield bashed her, and slashed at her neck. More barbarians came, and he dispatched them in twos and threes.

One tried to get in close and hold him still, but Helix used his large Imperial shield to buffet the savage over to the edge of the causeway. The Forsworn slipped and managed to grab onto the edge of the stone.

Helix unceremoniously sliced his enemy's fingers off, and the Forsworn plummeted onto his allies below. Wait, Helix thought, They've pushed us back this far? Indeed, the Forsworn invaders had gained ground. Helix couldn't see past the tall buildings in front of him, but he was sure that beyond them, the warriors stationed in Riverside were faring no better.

"Chief!" Helix yelled between strikes. "Do you have a new plan?"

"Affirmative." Replied the Chief. "We're going to fall back to Understone Keep and activate the Dwemer ballista. Let's move!" He and Serana rose and started running for the keep. Helix followed them, turning every once in a while to fend off another Forsworn that had caught up.

"What about the rest of the STF?" queried Helix as they ran. He was the only one breathing hard, but he reasoned with himself that it was not his fault. Kaius was so tough that he didn't seem human, and Serana didn't even need to breathe.

"I contacted Apex magically and told him to meet us up here. Told him that he wouldn't want to miss the show," said Serana.

She was right. When the three of them ran up the steps to Understone Keep, the rest of the STF were waiting for them.

"It's about bloody time!" said Phantom through his mask. He pointed to the city streets below them. "Those bastards are about to overwhelm us."

Helix felt a familiar sinking feeling. They had fought hard, but it looked like they were still going to lose. Just like Fort Snowhawk. He didn't see very many Blades down in the fighting, and hoped that was because they were out of his sight, not that they were dead.

They all trooped into the Keep. It was clear that the Special Task Force was beginning to tire. Blaze sported a bloody bandage on her calf and walked with a pronounced limp. Scepter's blue- gray skin was definitely gray now. Vortex's wounds had regenerated quickly due to his Hist skin, but he still looked decidedly drained.

Helix was just amazed that they were all still alive. But wait… Where was the Breton, Prysm? He decided not to ask them what had happened.

Up in the main hall, the Jarl was arguing with his steward. "No, Uncle! You will not go out there and get yourself killed! You can defend the Keep when the Forsworn get here," he told the older Nord. When he faced the Special Task Force, his face was grim. "For that is why you are here, correct? We're losing. And there's no Ulfric Stormcloak to drive them back this time."

"My Jarl," started the Chief. "We are suffering heavy losses, and are being driven back. I'm requesting permission to use the superweapon in Calcelmo's Tower."

"Superweapon?" asked Jarl Igmund incredulously. "You mean that old Dwarven ballista? Even if you could figure out how to fire it, there's nothing super about it."

With a hollow boom, the doors of Understone Keep flew open. Everyone whirled around, weapons ready, but it was only Uthgerd leading a few Blades. Two guards closed the doors again, shutting out the faint screams that seemed to have gotten closer. The Blades took their places beside the legionnaires.

The Chief started hesitantly. "I was thinking of attaching one of these explosives to the javelins. If we could cause a diversion in the marketplace and attract all the Forsworn to there, we could wipe out our enemies with one blast."

Serana chuckled. "Chief, that's crazy… Unfortunately for us all, I like crazy."

Uthgerd stepped up; bloodstained helmet tucked under one arm. "Jarl Igmund, I also find myself in support of his plan. We're losing too many men. If we could wipe out most of Forsworn, we could retake the city."

"A quick warning, sir," said the Chief. "If we succeed, I'm not sure how much of the city there will be to retake."

Jarl Igmund shook his head. "It's worth it. I won't have my city be taken by those savages again! One question, though… Who is going to be your distraction, your sacrifice?"

"We will be the sacrifice." Said Uthgerd, gesturing to her Blades. Uthgerd's voice was strong and resolute. It was… Unbroken.

"Blade, you know what this means, right?" asked the steward.

"Yes," replied Uthgerd. "If you want something done right, you must do it yourself. I want this done right. You're welcome to join us, steward."

Without looking at his nephew, Raerek, steward of Markarth, went over to stand next to the Blades, sealing his fate. "Alright," said the Chief. "We should move."

No sooner had he said this when the doors shuddered under an impact. The two guards rushed to hold them closed. Helix doubted that anyone friendly was outside.

"We need to move, now!" ordered the Chief. "Jarl Igmund, you and your court will follow us. We'll get you out of here."

"But—"

"There's no time, sir!" said Apex, dragging the Jarl along. They ran through the Dwemer Museum.

Halfway through, the Chief turned to Phantom. "You and Scepter should stay here and set up the traps that Calcelmo mentioned. There should be lots around here waiting to be activated."

Serana piped up. "Chief, I should help them. I learned quite a bit about Dwemer technology over the years."

The Chief started to shake his helmet, but Serana forestalled him. "C'mon, Chief. I'm a big girl. I can look after myself." Without waiting for his response, she peeled off with Scepter and Phantom.

"Over the years?" asked the Jarl. "What did she mean by that?" No one answered him, but he seemed to realize they had more pressing matters.

Their group burst out onto the overlook that separated the Museum from Calcelmo's Tower. Helix looked over the edge of the balcony. The only figures he saw moving around were the fur- clad Forsworn. Helix estimated that there were still over a hundred of them left.

Some were moving around the city, piling bodies or looting the buildings. More were approaching from beyond the gates. About thirty Forsworn were clustered around the doors of Understone Keep. With a large crash, their small battering ram broke through the doors.

Then they were in Calcelmo's Tower. Aicantor and Calcelmo were gathered around the dwarven ballista, doing who knew what to it. Next to them was… Prysm! He almost cried out in relief. It was good to know that the Special Task Force still had all its members.

"Prysm," said the Chief, "How close are you to figuring that ballista out? We need it right now."

Prysm shook her head doubtfully. "I'm not sure, Chief. See this port?" She opened a tiny door in the base of the ballista. "I think that we're missing a part. Something should be here that powers the machine."

"We're running out of time. Figure out what it is, and attach this to the spearhead." He tossed the Breton an explosive—the biggest Helix had seen yet. It was roughly in the shape of a cone the size of his upper arm.

All that was left to do was wait. Most of the Special Task Force went over to the hole in the wall to look out over the overrun city. Jarl Igmund and his court huddled together in something akin to shock. Uthgerd and the Blades were also together, making something out of rope.

After five more minutes, they began to hear people approaching the Tower from outside. Helix trained his crossbow on the door, but Kaius put a hand on his arm. "Wait."

First through the door was Serana, who seemed to be dragging something behind her. "Where the hell have you been?" asked the Chief, showing more emotion than Helix had ever heard.

"Doing something useful," Serana retorted. With a last heave, she pulled the handcart in behind her. The wooden cart was full to the brim with golden metal objects.

"Are those…?"

"Yes."

"How…?"

"I figured that on the off chance that Calcelmo wasn't finished decoding the great mysteries of dwarven technology, we might need a little extra something to hold off the Forsworn."

Behind her, Phantom and Scepter came in, also carrying cartfuls of dwarven armor. The Chief nodded in acceptance. "Everybody suit up!"

The Blades and the Jarl's court watched the doors while the legionnaires sorted through the armor to find their sizes. Lux, the Orc, got the biggest size. Prysm got the smallest, but her armor had little perks that the rest of theirs did not. Some of the STF like Blaze discarded their dwarven helmets in favor of the ones they already possessed.

Once they were all equipped with a full set of dwarven armor, they stood up and faced the Chief. "Orders, sir?" asked Apex.

"Defend the upper part of the Dwemer Museum. Serana laid hardly any traps there."

"Sir!" Apex saluted. "We'll give you as long as you need."

The Chief inclined his inky helm. "I expect nothing less, legionnaire."

The STF filed out of the Tower and into the Museum. "By the way, sir," said Phantom, "we activated some more of the automatons, including a Centurion. They're far away from us in the Museum, but hopefully they'll discourage the curious."

"Good," said Apex. They stopped just inside the doors. Ramrod stood in front to face the squad. "Okay, boys, this is it. There's nowhere to retreat to from here. This is where we hold them! This is where they die! Spread out and kill any hostile son of a bitch that dares defy the Legion!"

Apex grinned behind his helmet. Helix was getting the vibe that the squad leader was content to let Ramrod do all the motivational speeches. Helix didn't blame him. Ramrod was quite the orator.

They could hear screams of Forsworn and clanks of the Centurion from across the Museum. Eventually, the Centurion went silent and boots scuffed across the stone floors.

The Forsworn warriors burst into last room of the Dwemer Museum, looking angrier than ever. They must have lost at least twenty men to the traps that had been set up. Some of them still bore burns, cuts, or were coughing from the poison gas trap.

At any other time, Helix might have found it highly amusing for the STF to stand still and pretend that they were part of the Museum, but he figured that the Forsworn wouldn't think so. Instead, he and the rest of his squad mates opened up the fight with a hail of projectiles.

Most of the Forsworn died in the first volley. But there were more outside, and they all wanted a piece of the underhanded survivors of the battle. Helix shot a Forsworn in the head with his new dwarven crossbow that he had found and took out a sword and shield to face the savages that had closed in.

The Forsworn's weapons were worse than useless against the solid metal. Only those who had scavenged metal weapons from the dead guards stood any chance of going toe to toe with the Special Task Force. They worked together whenever they could, ganging up on the barbaric Reachmen to whom teamwork wasn't widely known.

Helix shield- bashed a Forsworn, and as the latter stumbled backward, Blaze hit him with a jet of fire from her palms. The room soon smelled strongly of blood and burnt hair.

Phantom was ducked and weaved in and out of the melee, reanimating corpses or slashing throats with a daedric dagger. Helix saw a Forsworn running at him and hunched behind the large shield. Blaze shot some slick ice on the floor which made the barbarian skid out of control. Helix raised a heavy boot and crushed his prone head.

Two enemies smashed into the legionnaire, but he didn't go down. Instead, he used his weight to shove them into Blaze's ice spikes. It felt too easy. None of the Forsworn provided a challenge. It was just slaughter. A few Briarhearts were spread across the room. Phantom sprang up behind one of them and stabbed the briar heart through his back.

Through a lull in the fighting, Helix saw Lux sparring with another Briarheart. It looked like the biggest one yet, so Helix was glad that Lux was dueling him. Lux had already smashed one of the Briarheart's legs with his dwarven warhammer and knocked off his deer- styled headdress, but the Briarheart was far from beaten.

The Briarheart swung a makeshift cudgel with a large rock at the end, but it just rebounded off Lux's shoulder pauldron. The Orc punched the Briarheart in the chest. The Briarheart wheezed. It was clear that some ribs had been broken. Helix started to lumber over, his armor making it nearly impossible to run.

Tally hit the Briarheart with an arrow. The Forsworn man was beginning to be affected by his injuries, but it wasn't enough to stop him. The Briarheart cast an ice spell at Lux, and it rendered his heavy armor stiff and unmovable. Lux could only stare in defiance as the Briarheart lifted the hammer to smash him in the face.

Helix barreled in and stabbed the partially undead Breton in the side, skewering all organs in his torso. The Forsworn looked down and swayed. Then he turned, wide dwarven sword still in him, and hit Helix in the helmet with his club.

Helix bent double, hands over his face, but it was just dust that blinded him. The Briarheart's stone hammer had cracked upon impact. Now, however, a small strip of Helix's neck was exposed, and the Briarheart had grabbed Lux's warhammer from his frosty gauntlets. Just as he raised it above his head, Tally's arrow speared him through the throat. For good measure, Blaze cast a lightning bolt that blasted what remained of the Briarheart into a museum display.

Helix helped Lux chip the ice that jammed his armor. They retrieved their swords and got ready for the next wave of intruders. The Chief poked his head through the door. "How are you doing?"

They all responded positively. Most of the legionnaires had not suffered any more wounds since they put on the armor. The Chief nodded. "They're almost done. Once we fire the round, we'll escape, but if there's too much opposition between us and the gate, we'll reenter Understone Keep and hole up inside Nchuand Zel until we can escape." His head vanished around the corner.

"Seems like he's always giving orders at top speed," said Tally, scavenging usable arrows out of corpses. He held up an arrow with a snapped tip. With a huff of disgust, he threw it back down. "Captain, I'm running out of ammo."

"Aren't we all," remarked Ramrod. "Deal with it."

"Actually, I think I saw a few more dwarven arrows laying on one of those tables," provided Blaze.

"My savior!" Tally said, batting his eyelashes dramatically.

"Stuff it," snapped Phantom. "Here comes the next wave of them!"

Helix wrenched his sword out of the dead Briarheart and took up a battle stance. Through the Museum came sloping, twisted figures of Hagravens and their honor guard, the Briarhearts.

Lux hit a Briarheart with a tomahawk, and from there, things got serious. The Special Task Force was slightly outnumbered, and they found that they needed their juggernaut suits.

Helix ran at the first Briarheart, who dodged his swing and hit him with a lightning bolt from behind. Helix's back arched in agony; for all its advantages, the armor didn't insulate very well against electricity. Helix fell to his knees. He felt his helmet jiggle around as the Briarheart tried to wrench it off. Instead, Helix launched himself backwards, using his weight to pin the Forsworn on the ground. The Auxiliary raised an encased fist to pulp the briar heart in the Forsworn's chest, but a massive impact flipped him over.

He began to get up, instinctively checking whether he still had all four limbs. Smoke curled from his armor; A Hagraven screeched in fury and launched another at him. He wasn't fast enough to dodge. Instead, Helix hunched himself behind his shield and rolled with the explosion.

From a kneeling position, he drew out and primed one of Virali's spirit charges. The resulting blast cut the Hagraven to ribbons and injured the Briarheart. Helix picked himself up and dispatched the downed Forsworn. He shook his head in disappointment at his scratched and dented shield.

He looked around for another enemy. An Orc wearing Forsworn furs snarled in delight and strode calmly at him with an iron battleaxe held in one massive fist. "Count yourself honored, imperial usurper. You'll be killed by me, Borkul the Beast!"

"Borkul… The name doesn't ring a bell. Should I know you?"

The Orc shouted, "I am King Madanach's bodyguard! You should have heard tales of my ferocity!"

"We'll see about that," said Helix grimly, and stepped inside Borkul's first swing. He bashed Borkul in the face with his battered dwarven shield. Even as Borkul's head snapped back, he shoved the haft of his battleaxe in Helix's gut. It was useless; Helix's armor was still enough to stop it. Helix stabbed his sword at Borkul's sternum, but Borkul swept the blade aside and jumped back.

They circled each other warily; Helix knew that his Dwarven armor put him on an even ground with the larger mer. Borkul raised his axe high and sunk it into Helix's upraised shield. Helix sliced underneath the shield, but only nicked his enemy.

Borkul wrenched his axe from side to side, and Helix could only stumble along with it. Then Borkul slammed the shield down. Before Helix could untangle his sword to attack, the Orc stepped over the shield and axe and stomped on Helix's armored arm. Helix gasped in pain and lowered his arm so that it wouldn't break with the angle.

Helix decided that it was time to lose the shield. He wiggled his arm out of the leather straps only to receive a solid kick to the helmet from Borkul. But now the Imperial was loose, and as he rose to his feet, he slashed in an upward diagonal. It connected, and he was rewarded with a spray of blood and a howl.

Borkul went crazy; he swung his great battleaxe with one hand now, forcing Helix to throw up his gauntlets to block the blows. He's berserking! Thought Helix as he crossed his arms to catch the axe. His gauntlets had long fin- like crests for just this purpose. On the next hit, Borkul's battleaxe sunk deep into the metal ridges and bumped Helix's arm.

Once again, it was stuck, and Borkul shook Helix all over trying to get his axe head out of Helix's gauntlet. Helix punched Borkul in the tusks whenever he could, but it didn't seem to be affecting him. Borkul's rage was overcoming any pain or blood loss that might have otherwise hampered him.

With a final yank, the axe came free. Helix rolled away and came up with his dagger ready. Borkul didn't even bother to pick up his battleaxe. He ran at Helix full speed. Helix dived at him as well, but the impact was like hitting a mammoth. Helix jammed his knife into Borkul's side. The Orc brought two fists down on his chestpiece, actually denting the metal.

Helix pushed him off and got to his feet. The Museum was fast becoming a nightmare. More and more Forsworn had poured in, until even the dwarven juggernaut armor worn by the Special Task Force was taking a beating. Two Hagravens had cast so much fire onto Scepter's armor that it had heated and he was forced to strip out of it or be cooked alive.

A sliver of silver caught Helix's attention. He started to turn, then went sprawling on his hands and knees as Borkul's battleaxe hit him hard.

He glanced at his shoulder pauldron. There was a shallow crack in it. Helix gritted his teeth and started to get up, but he hit the ground again as Borkul chopped at his back. Helix's armor was thinner there, and the axe almost got all the way through.

Helix rolled over and kicked upwards. Borkul shrugged it off and brought his battleaxe down on Helix's chest. As he raised it for another swing, Helix tried to get to his feet. Then he was struck again, and flopped back down. Helix was getting exhausted now. His armor seemed to weigh a ton, but it was the only thing keeping him alive from Borkul's onslaught.

Borkul slashed at Helix's legs. The iron weapon caught one of the buckles and tore the entire greave off.

"I'll kill you if I have to tear your fancy armor off piece by piece!"

Helix grabbed a nearby Forsworn sword and tried to block Borkul's next swing. He was successful, but the flimsy sword snapped. He flung the hilt at his adversary. Borkul snorted and hauled Helix up by the shoulders. The Orc shoved him away and gestured to the Hagravens. "Light 'im up!"

They cackled and cast torrents of fire at Helix, who recoiled, covering his helmet. One of the Hagravens cast a fireball. He was blown backwards, flailing his limbs, until he hit a glass display which shattered.

As Helix lay there, broken, the reflection of flames devouring anything flammable in the Museum danced across his ruined armor. It was fascinating to watch, even when he felt himself yanked upward by the green skinned brute.

"You're gonna learn why no one bests an Orc!" yelled Borkul. He hit Helix with an uppercut from his axe. The axe cleaved the front of his helmet open and flung it away from his head. It also nicked Helix's chin bone. Blood poured out of the two halves of his jaw. Borkul brought a fist back for a massive punch.

Helix twisted to the side, and the Orc stumbled forward, off balance. Helix pulled the dagger out of Borkul's side and plunged it in between his ribs and rolled away, coming up with his crossbow in the crook of his shoulder. Borkul chuckled. "What can that peashooter do to me?"

Helix fired. The bolt took Borkul squarely in the shoulder. As Helix hoped, it hit something vital. Borkul's hand went limp and he dropped his axe, along with his mouth. "What—?" Helix fired again. Borkul was hit in the other shoulder. He grimaced. "This matters not! I could beat you with my eyes closed!"

"Yeah?" Helix slurred, blood flying from his mouth, "Can you do it with no body?" He fired one last time. The quarrel flew true and hit Borkul in the chest.

Borkul winced, but stayed on his feet. "Is that… All you got?"

The crossbow bolt exploded.

Around the Dwemer Museum, the remains of the Forsworn were either killed or retreated. The air was cloudy with smoke and ash from burned tapestries and bodies. Helix stumbled to the door to the wizard's balcony, shedding pieces of armor as he went.

With a deft slice of his dagger, the straps of his chest armor were cut, and the plate hit the ground with a hollow clunk. Miraculously, the legionnaires were all alive, though all were injured and trailing blood.

Apex gave his men a small smile. "Good to see that we're all here. Let's get upstairs. I think the Forsworn retreated because there's better prey down in the marketplace."

They limped outside and across the balcony. Ropes trailed from the hole in Calcelmo's Tower, and the Blades were down the city, making as big of a commotion as they could. More and more Forsworn were being drawn to the skirmish. The Blades were surrounded by about eighty enemies, and more of them were arriving every second. So far, the Chief's plan seemed to be working. Helix just hoped Uthgerd and her warriors could hold out until the ballista was fired.

Apex opened the door to Calcelmo's Tower and was met with the business end of the Chief's crossbow. When he saw who it was, Kaius lowered his weapon. "Good to see you."

Apex dipped his head in response. Helix, who was finishing off a healing potion, frowned as he saw Prysm, Serana, and the wizards still clustered around the ballista. Nothing had changed. Prysm looked up. Her hair was messy, but she reported with some satisfaction, "Chief, it's ready. The last component is the power supply."

She opened the small metal compartment and placed a filled grand soul gem in it. Then she stepped back. "We've attached the explosive. I think we should fire before the Blades are all killed and the Forsworn lose interest."

"Do it," ordered the Chief.

Prysm stepped up to the lever attached to the ballista's base. She gave one last regretful glance at the Blades that she was about to obliterate. Then she threw the lever.

The huge strings snapped taut and sprang forward, pushing the javelin through its shallow track and out over Markarth. For a few shining seconds, it had all the glory and grace of a bird. Its metal fins whistled ominously, and the small package that had replaced the tip shined in the afternoon light.

Helix thought he could hear the small ping as the javelin struck the cobblestone. The scene was frozen forever in Helix's mind: Markarth in ruins, his friends standing apprehensive beside him, and Uthgerd, a lone figure standing Unbroken amidst the bodies of her comrades and enemies.

A second sun blossomed in Markarth. Its walls crumbled to bricks in an instant, Uthgerd and the Forsworn were vaporized, leaving smears of ash in the shallow, glass pit that became the marketplace. Helix threw his hands up to his eyes, but the flare had already blinded him.

The expanding dome of flame reached out to Helix with whipping winds and a wave of heat so intense, Helix could feel his face crisp as if with a suntan. He and the survivors fell back from the fissure. The Dwemer ballista groaned and swayed a little.

Then the shrieking wind and roaring explosion died away, and there descended a silence so profound, Helix didn't want to be the first to break it. But apparently Tally did.

"Glad that didn't blow up in our faces."

Blaze sighed. "You are insufferable! Poor Uthgerd…"

Apex shook his head. "She died saving her country from anarchy and doubt." After a moment's consideration, "We should all be so lucky."

"If that's the kind of luck you fancy, please keep it to yourself," snorted Tally.

"We have to move," said the Chief, standing by the crevice. "There are reinforcements inbound."

Understone Keep trembled under them. "By Azura!" exclaimed Scepter. "The blast will have weakened all nearby structures. I don't think we can go back down through the Dwemer Museum."

"Then we have to rappel like the Blades did to get to the street and reenter Understone Keep to get to Nchuand Zel."

"We should proceed carefully," remarked Lux.

Tally rolled his eyes. Their odds of survival improving seemed to have put fresh spirit in him. "Right, 'cuz I was going to proceed pell-mell down a thin rope to a street four stories below me."

The Jarl and his court seemed quite uncomfortable with the prospect of fast roping, but there was no choice. Three legionnaires of the Special Task Force slid down the ropes and secured a small perimeter in front of a waterfall. Then three members of the Jarl's court were tied to the ropes and lowered down. It went like that until everyone was in the upper part of the city on a stone walkway.

"Let's go." The Chief led them up some roads back into Understone Keep. Helix tried not to look too long at all the bodies sprawled around the fresh rubble. From Calcelmo's Tower, it had looked like all the buildings near the gates had been demolished and the ones in the higher reaches were unstable at best, having their bases wrecked.

The motley group moved cautiously through what remained of Understone Keep, pausing only to requisition food from the kitchens and other supplies. Helix pressed his red cape to one of his wounds. His legionnaire uniform was in relatively good condition. Again he thanked the gods they had found the Dwarven armor.

The Chief must have taken Lux's advice to heart, because he didn't relax until they had reached the room in the Nchuand Zel Excavation Site where Phantom had interrogated the prisoners. It still reeked of filth, but the cannibals themselves were nowhere to be seen. Helix hoped that they had been killed by the guards or in the fighting so that they wouldn't carry secrets back to Lord Morden.

Apex paused next to a man sized fissure in the wall. "Here's where we wait. Not sure how long the Forsworn will want to sit on a pile of rubble, but it could be a week or more. The point is, we bide our time until the escape route is less hot."

"Come, friends," said Tally, looping a scraped arm over Jarl Igmund's neck. "Our new home awaits. Maybe the Falmer will throw us a housewarming party. I do so love their decorations."