The girl jumped at the sound of a low moan. Jerking her head to the right side of the corridor, she saw a man in the cell closest to hers shackled to the wall. He looked strong, capable... And she didn't have the heart to leave anyone in the cruel clutches of the Thalmor.
Opening the door, she cautiously approached him. He wore nothing but a pair or dark tattered trousers. A dark red tattoo stained the side of his face. He was covered in cuts and bruises, scars littering his body. Looking up at the girl with startlingly crimson eyes, unseeing, he growled, "When I get out of here I'll kill you all myself!"
"Easy now, I'm here to help." The woman tentatively replied, hesitantly stepping closer.
"What? Who are you?... You're not with the Thalmor, are you?" The man interrogated. The girl shook her head in response, to the relief of the prisoner in front of her. "Quick, get me free from here before more come!" The man ushered. She nodded and, using the key, went to unlock his shackles.
"Who are you? Why are you in here?" She inquired, struggling with the locks.
"The Thalmor invited me to high tea, what to you think?" He snapped. After a second, he sighed, continuing. "I don't know... Some Justiciars ambushed me outside of Falkreath..."
The girl nodded. "They got me for Talos' Worship..." She admitted. "Don't worry, I'll get you free."
Unlocking the other shackle, the man dropped to the ground.
"I'm Morwen. Morwen Grey-Heart." The woman introduced.
"Kaidan... My name is Kaidan..." The man replied, standing up and rubbing his wrists. He stood nearly as tall as an Altmer male, an awe inspiring height. "You're a life saver."
"I've found a healing potion, here." Morwen fished the bottle from her tunic and handed it to him.
"A bottled miracle, this stuff..." Kaidan nodded, throwing his head back and downing the elixir. "Thank you." Immediately, he was surrounded with a golden haze, ribbons of light circulating around his wounded body as his bruises faded, his cuts closed, and scars welled up in their place.
Morwen flashed a small smile of relief.
"Let's get out of here." She turned, eyeing a gaping hole in the crumbling cell wall opposite to the door. It looked like it led deeper into the prison. Or perhaps an alternate exit?
"Wait," Kaidan lightly touched her shoulder. "There's one more thing... One of the Thalmor got his hands on my sword. I know I've got no right to ask, but... I could use your help in getting it back."
Morwen sighed and nodded, understanding the importance of a man's weapon, especially in the current climate of Tamriel.
"Where did he go?"
Kaidan smiled with relief. "Headed deeper into the prison," He replied. "And with luck, he's cornered like a rat!"
Morwen nodded. "Let's go, then." The two decided to go through the hole in the wall. If anything, it could lead them to the Justiciar at least. They could work to find an exit from there. Stepping over crumbling mortar and debris, they found themselves in another cell, empty and dilapidated like the last. The door was locked, of course.
"I have a key." Morwen held up the small but vital bit of brass. "It seems to be a skeleton key to the whole prison."
"Let's hope that luck holds..." Kaidan muttered.
The lock clicked, the rusty door pushed open with a creak. They walked out into another corridor, cells lining the left wall, the right, up on a catwalk, gray and bare. At the near end of the corridor sat a table beside a wardrobe, pushed flush to the back wall. On the opposite side of the corridor was a stairwell leading further on into the dank oppressive building. Near the table, on the lower level, sat a chest with more gold and a torch.
Morwen handed the torch and a sword she found on the table up on the catwalk off to Kaidan. Together, they pressed on, glancing at the cells for anyone else. All they found were mutilated bodies and ominous skeletal remains.
Heading up the confined stairwell, the duo rounded a corner to come face to face with who could only be one of the Justiciars sitting at a table, bathed in gilded robes of ash and lavender.
The Justiciar bolted up, knocking the chair back. The hairs on Morwen's neck stood on end as the Justiciar wielded magic, violet Sparks of electricity dancing in his hands.
"Fools!" The golden elf screamed, projecting crackling bolts at the prisoners. Morwen ducked and slid across the floor, driving the axe into one of his knees. With a shriek, he toppled and Kaidan finished him off, driving the sword through his throat.
"Son of a bitch had it coming." Kaidan growled
Searching the body, Morwen found a large and rather peculiar sword sheathed to the torturer's belt. The woman grabbed it and presented it to Kaidan. "Is this it?"
The man's eyes lit up. "Yes! I can't thank you enough! I know you didn't have to help me..."
Morwen nodded, the two spreading out to search the room. It was small, smaller than the cells even, and only featured a bed, a table and chair, and a chest. Nearly half the room had caved in. Kaidan searched the chest, finding all of his confiscated gear. Morwen went up a narrow hall that led to nothing more than a closet filled with shelves of deteriorating books and a chest with more gold and a healing potion. Grabbing it, she turned and, together, the duo retraced their steps.
Kaidan pointed out some potions in his cell they had missed, and, scanning the cells for others to no avail, they headed up the first corridor toward the snores of the guard ahead.
Up the steps, they arrived in a supply room leading further up. Unlike Kaidan, who had suited up in his dark plated armour, Morwen was scant for protection and was grateful to find a pair of leather braces and some boots. It was light, but something was better than nothing.
Amongst the cramped walls of the room, they also found ingots and healing potions. Grabbing the potions, the ascended into the room the guard was in, her face down on the table. Kaidan was quick to off the elf, Morwen squeezing into a small chamber where she found a bow and coin purse.
Onward they climbed, emerging into an empty circular chamber, water surging in through a large crack in the wall.
"What with the whole place flooded prior, I'm surprised it's still standing..." Morwen remarked.
"Barely." Kaidan scoffed before walking up the spiral staircase. Morwen followed and, together, they pushed open another door and stepped out into the light.
