'Take Fort Amol!' Brunwulf Free-Winter exclaimed, 'It can't be done!'

Lucia sighed. This was going nowhere. Despite being guests of the Jarl of Windhelm for days now, they had come no closer to convincing him to root out the Kingsworn.

They were sat at the jarl's table, Brunwulf's family sat across from them. She had brought along Lars, Samuel and Blaise because Brunwulf was a strong supporter of the Legion and she thought having some imperial soldiers with her might help convince the Jarl. No such luck. Braith had also come, though Lucia suspected that was as much so that she could be with Lars as it was to help her, as had Runa.

The six of them had been shown the highest courtesy and been asked to tell the story of their attack on Fort Greenwall but when the topic had turned to Fort Amol, the Jarl had become considerably less accommodating.

'As we have said, Lord,' Samuel said, patiently, 'Fort Amol can be taken and it must be taken. The Kingsworn are not going to sit by and remain quiet. Especially if war is coming to Skyrim.'

'You can't possibly think that these Kingsworn,' Brunwulf scoffed at the name, 'will fall in with the Thalmor. I like them no more than you do but I can't see them sinking that low.'

'Maybe not,' Samuel conceded, 'but I doubt they would fall in with the Lord Dragonborn either. The enemy of an enemy is not always a friend and the Kingsworn still blame Lord Uhther for the death of Jarl Ulfric.'

'And rightly so,' Jorleif the steward muttered.

'Peace, Jorleif,' Brunwulf barked at the man. Jorleif accepted his jarl's rebuttal, but continued shooting Lucia a dark look which she returned with interest. She had never liked the man.

'And you cannot think they will forget Windhelm,' Samuel went on, as if there had been no interruption, 'even after all this time, they still think of Ulfric as the true king and this was his seat. You think they will leave it in peace?'

Brunwulf spat but Lucia could see Samuel's words were starting to sink in. Her heart lifted, tentatively. Perhaps today would be the day.

'But you would have me assault Fort Amol?' Brunwulf demanded, 'even ignoring the fact that it would be attacking my own land, the fort cannot be taken.'

'It can,' Lucia said quietly, 'my father took the fort during the civil war, Lord, or had you forgotten?'

Brunwulf coloured.

'I had not,' he said, steel in his voice, 'but despite what your friends might have you thinking, Lucia, you are not the Dragonborn.'

Lucia felt her own face flush with embarrassment and anger, like she had asked for the name of Young Dragon. True she had never told the Fangs to stop, but still.

She opened her mouth to retort but then saw Blaise shoot her a warning look, and she closed it again. She had been out of line. Brunwulf had lost a son during the civil war. She took a deep breath.

'I may not be my father, Lord,' she said, 'but I have proved myself against the Kingsworn once. With your support, I know I can do it again.'

Brunwulf sniffed.

'Bold words, young lady,' he said, 'I might doubt them if not for your success at Fort Greenwall. But that is an old castle. Your father and I spent the year after the war ended strengthening Fort Amol, it is almost impregnable.'

'Almost impregnable,' Braith said, catching the Jarl's meaning just as Lucia had, 'so there is a way in.'

Brunwulf's lip curled in a slight smile as he looked at Braith.

'Not an easy way,' he said, 'but Uhther wanted a way in in case the Fort ever needed to be taken again.'

'Well I'd say that day has come, Lord,' Samuel said, appealingly, 'surely you see that.'

Brunwulf was prevented from saying anything in reply by a new arrival. This man was dressed in the armour of an imperial soldier, just like Lars, Samuel and Blaise, though this one had the look of a courier.

This was confirmed when he made straight for the jarl's seat, removing a tightly bound scroll from a satchel as he did so.

'Urgent news from Solitude,' he said, 'your eyes only, Jarl Brunwulf.'

Brunwulf accepted the scroll and the courier turned and left the hall. Unrolling the scroll, Jarl Brunwulf began reading. Lucia held her breath. She could see the jarl's face grow darker and darker with each word he read.

'The Lord Uhther, known also as the Dragonborn, is to be held by any jarl who may lay hands on him,' he read aloud, 'a force of Thalmor Justicars is coming north to arrest him in the name of the Dominion. All jarls are also summoned to a moot in Solitude.' He looked up at Lucia, 'this came from the hand of Queen Elisif.'

Lucia felt as if someone had punched her in the gut. The queen wanted her father arrested? Had she finally thrown her lot in wholly with the Thalmor?

'The letter makes no mention of you,' Brunwulf said, 'so you and your band are free to go. But I'm afraid I can give no help to you against the Kingsworn. Elisif says there is an army encamped outside Solitude made up of men and women who seem to be in service to your father. They are not besieging the city but an army is only ever made for one purpose.'

'You're not going to fight my father, are you?' Lucia asked.

'I will do what I must,' Brunwulf said, evasively, 'as my queen and the empire commands.'

As Lucia and her friends left the Hall of Kings, she couldn't help looking back over her shoulder. Brunwulf was slumped back in his throne, still looking at the letter. He looked like a man preparing to go to his own funeral.

Back in the city, Braith turned to her.

'What do we do now?' she demanded.

'We have to go to Solitude,' Samuel exclaimed

'But to join which side?' Blaise asked, morosely. Samuel and Lars turned on him, looking incredulous. 'Well you heard the jarl,' Blaise said, defensively, 'the word came from Queen Elisif, which means it got Tullius's blessing to it. They're going to make Lord Uhther out to be a traitor.'

'That doesn't matter,' Lars said, 'Uhther is still our legate, and I will not believe Tullius thinks him a traitor, whatever the letter says. There's something more to this.'

Braith looked at Lars, an expression of fierce pride in her eyes.

'There's an army sworn to Lord Uhther outside Solitude,' she said, turning to Lucia, 'we can go there and join up with them.'

'That still leaves the Kingsworn though,' Samuel said, a hand to his chin, 'if the Thalmor are coming, can we really trust them to stay out of the way and cause no trouble?'

'Get back to the inn,' Lucia said, 'we can talk it over with the others.'

'Where are you going?' Braith demanded as Lucia began walking in the opposite direction to the Candlehearth Inn.

'I need to take care of something,' Lucia shouted back, 'I'll meet you in the Inn soon.'

Alone, Lucia made her way through the streets to Hjerim, her father's house. As she ran, she held the handle of her axe still so that it would not bang against her leg. She had decided on a name for the weapon in the weeks since the raid on Fort Greenwall. Stormkist. She hoped she would not need it today.

'Lucia?' Sylgja exclaimed when she saw her daughter, 'what…'

'Sorry, mother, I don't have much time,' Lucia cut across her. Glancing to the corner of the room, she could see Sofie with little Æthur. The two seemed to have been playing at warriors, both were holding wooden swords, but they were now looking at her with wide eyes, 'you need to leave. You, Sofie and Æthur. Take ship to Solstheim, you should be safe with the Skaal, Frea will probably look after you.' She had only met the shaman once, when Uhther had taken them to see Solstheim. Lucia had admired her strong sense of duty and her determination, not to mention it had been she who had given Lucia the idea of taking up the axe. She was also loyal to Uhther so Lucia was sure she would look after his family.

'Leave for Solstheim?' Sylgja, clearly confused, 'what are you talking about, girl?'

'The Thalmor are coming north,' Lucia had to stop herself from shouting. Calder had come into the room, looking concerned, 'they're coming for father. The Jarl's are gathering at Solitude and so's father, I think. Brunwulf says they won't bother with us but I don't think the Thalmor will ignore the Dragonborn's family.' Sylgja's eyes widened with understanding.

'Uhther's attack on the embassy,' she breathed, 'I had heard but I didn't think they would act so soon.' She turned on Calder. 'Send a message to Darkwater Crossing,' she said, brusquely, 'to my mother and father. Tell them to pack some supplies and come here immediately. They may as well bring Derkeethus too, I suppose. My father can come with us to Solstheim but then you, Derkeethus and my mother should go join the others at Solitude.'

Not for the first time, Lucia appreciated why Uhther had married Sylgja. The woman was no warrior but she could command as well as any general, as well as any jarl.

Calder, clearly still confused but happy to follow orders, nodded and ran out the house to, Lucia knew, the city gates to find a courier. It wasn't far to Darkwater Crossing, but it would still be a day at least before they arrived. But still, at least they knew and were willing to go. Lucia turned to go but she felt a tugging on her sleeve. Looking down, she saw Æthur looking up at her.

'Are you coming with us?' the boy asked, 'Sofie won't play swords with me as much as you.'

Lucia knelt down and hugged her brother.

'Sorry,' she said, softly, 'but I've got to go help Father. But I'll come find you as soon as I can and we'll play swords all day then.'

Æthur hugged her back and then Lucia was aware of another body pressed against them.

'You come back safe, alright,' Sofie said, her long dark hair tickling her nose.

'I'll do my best,' Lucia grinned.

The two sisters stood up, hugged again then broke apart. Sylgja was busy gathering supplies but before Lucia could leave, she pressed a kiss to her daughter's forehead.

'We heard what you did in the Rift,' she said, 'I know your father will be proud. I certainly am. You take care, Young Dragon.'

Lucia could feel her face burning, though whether that was out of pride or embarrassment even she couldn't tell.

'You took your time,' Braith said when Lucia finally joined them in the Candlehearth Inn common room.

It was so strange, Lucia thought, they had met for the first time here. That seemed so long ago.

The Fangs were all there, gathered around the long table. Llirvalie was sat apart, lounging in a high-backed chair. She looked at her ease but Lucia knew if anyone even tried to threaten the dark elf, they would be dead before they had chance to blink.

'Samuel told us what the Jarl said,' Hroar reported as Lucia sat with them, 'what are we going to do?'

'Well that's obvious, isn't it?' Braith answered before Lucia could even open her mouth, 'we're going to join the Dragonborn's forces at Solitude.'

'But the Jarl said the Dragonborn's going to be arrested,' Alesan said, worriedly, 'the emperor has commanded them to take Lord Uhther until the Thalmor get here.'

'And what about the Kingsworn?' Britte demanded, hotly, 'you're not going to tell me we're just going to let them be?'

'What if Lord Uhther fights against the jarls?' Runa asked, worriedly, 'it would be another Civil War!'

'The Legate would never do that,' Lars exclaimed, 'he's a loyal servant of the empire.'

'Just as Ulfric was?' Haming retorted, sardonically.

Lucia banged her fist on the table. Everyone fell silent.

'I cannot believe my father would fight this hard to free Skyrim from the Thalmor just to turn on his own people,' she said, 'if he's gathering an army at Solitude, there's got to be some other reason we don't know. Brunwulf said he's not laying siege to the city so it's got to be something else.'

'But how do we find out?' Blaise asked.

'We go to Solitude,' Lucia said simply, 'I'd say we've done enough to prove our worth. We removed Maven Blackbriar from the throne of the Rift and replaced her with someone actually loyal to the Empire.'

'But what of the Kingsworn?' Britte repeated, petulantly, 'was all that for no reason?'

Lucia grunted. Loath as she was to admit it, Britte had a point. The Kingsworn could still cause trouble for Uhther, but she could not deal with them and go to Solitude. And she wanted to be in Solitude, to be with her father, to fight at his side at last.

'I have an idea,' Samuel said slowly. Lucia turned to look at him, 'you should go to Solitude. I will stay here with Runa, Hroar and Haming. The rest can come with you. We'll follow you when we're done.'

'But what are you going to do?' Braith asked. Samuel tapped his nose, conspiratorially.

'I won't give anything away yet,' he said, 'but if I'm right, I might be able to get the Kingsworn to work for us.'

Reactions around the table ranged from disbelief to outright incredulity in response to that, and Lucia was no different. The Kingsworn work for them?

'Alright,' Lucia said, hesitantly, 'you do what you can then come join up with us. The rest of us will be leaving tomorrow after my family are on the ship to Solstheim, then we can travel with Calder, Derkeethus and my grandmother.'

The Fangs nodded in agreement. Then, the official business done with, they turned to social conversations and drinking. Joric sharpened his greatsword, looking at the weapon with a content expression while Braith challenged Hroar to arm-wrestle.

'I'll travel with you, if that's alright,' Llirvalie came to sit beside Lucia, 'I've been meaning to meet up with the Dragonborn so if you're going to him, I'll come too.'

'Sounds good,' Lucia said, smiling. She'd got used to the dark elf's company these past weeks and would be loath to lose her fighting ability now, just as it seemed all Oblivion were about to break loose.

'Excuse me,' a new voice broke in on their conversation. Lucia turned to see a slight girl wearing the blue tunic and tan cowl of an apprentice mage standing nearby, shuffling her feet awkwardly. 'I was wondering, are you the Fangs?'

Lucia's hand drifted to rest on Stormkist. You never knew with mages.

'We might be,' she said, slowly, 'why?'

The apprentice pushed back her hood to reveal a thin, pale face and long, fair hair.

'I was hoping to join you,' she said. It was only then that Lucia noticed the apprentice mage had a sword hanging from her belt. Before she could answer, another of the Fangs had gotten to their feet, recognition on their face.

'Sissel?' Britte exclaimed.

Sissel the apprentice turned cool eyes on Britte.

'Hello sister,' she said.