Mercer sprang over her as she hit the floor. She didn't feel the impact; a numbness was sweeping through her body like ice water in a winter stream and she couldn't move. She saw Mercer press himself against a stone column, trying to keep a barrier between himself and Karliah.
Issana could see Karliah too. The dunmer was shrouded in shadow, the dancing light of the campfire casting orange light over her dark features. She had a second arrow nocked to her bow.
Issana couldn't move her head to look down. She didn't know how deep the arrow had gone, how much she was bleeding, or if she'd snapped the shaft in her fall. She couldn't feel any of it, and yet somehow she could still see and hear.
Am I dying?
I can't tell.
She tried to speak but couldn't move her lips and couldn't even tell if she was still breathing.
"Karliah," Mercer said.
"Mercer," Karliah replied, sighting down her arrow.
"It's been a long time."
"Ten years, Mercer. I've had time to plan."
Mercer nodded. "Yes, I noticed. Buying Goldenglow? Funding Honningbrew? You've got Maven royally angry with me. Well done."
Karliah began to skirt around the fire. Mercer moved with her, keeping the pillar between them. "To ensure an enemy's defeat," Karliah said, "you must first undermine his allies. It was the first lesson Gallus taught us."
"I remember."
Karliah wrenched her bow back to full draw. "You son of a bitch. He was your friend!"
Mercer snorted. "Don't be a child, Karliah. We don't have the luxury of friends. Gallus would have done the same. He'd have even turned on you in the end."
Karliah stepped wide but Mercer had shifted again. "You're wrong."
Issana's vision was growing dimmer and her thoughts were clouding. Mercer was edging out of her line of vision as Karliah reversed direction, heading back around the campfire.
"Where the end began," Mercer said. "Fitting poetry. But I think it's time for it to truly end."
He moved like lightning. Karliah's bow twanged but Mercer was too quick. The arrow broke against the stone and Mercer came up from his roll, sword drawn.
Karliah vanished. Smoke curled from where she'd stood, rising slowly and mixing in with the smoke of the campfire.
"I'm no fool, Mercer." Her voice seemed to come from everywhere at once. "Crossing blades with you would be a death sentence. But I swear to you, the next time we meet will be your undoing."
Mercer charged. He swung his sword wildly at the smoky remnants and cleaved nothing but air. "NO!" His gaze snapped violently around the room. "You bitch! Come back here! I'll send you off to meet your bastard lover! RAGH!" He kicked the campfire, spraying embers and ash across the floor. "Damn you! Damn you to Oblivion! Run to your precious Nocturnal then! I'll still-" He doubled over as coughs from the ash wracked his body.
Darkness was closing in around Issana's vision. Mercer's choking sounds were fading, muffled as she began to lose consciousness. Mercer stalked over to her, spitting ash from his lips. His eyes were lit with fury. "And you… At least I'll be rid of you." He put his boot against her shoulder and shoved her onto her back.
Issana could see little more than a dark outline. His sword glinted in the scattered campfire as its point came to rest over her heart.
She couldn't move.
Couldn't scream.
Mercer thrust. The room jarred as the impact rocked her body.
He stabbed again.
And again.
And then…
Nothing.