Arminius walked into the darkened stone room. There was a passage that leads to the middle of the room, which held a shrine and statue of Talos, and was surrounded by pillars on four corners. On the first corner to the right, Arminius saw the Breton man with the weird face paint backed up against the wall, arms crossed.
"That attack in the market…" He spoke. "I'm sorry to drag you into Markarth's problems, but I'm running out of time." The Breton looked closer to him and arched his head to the side. "You're an outsider…dangerous looking maybe…you'll do."
"What do you mean, I'll do?" Arminius asked, getting the creeps from this Breton man.
"Don't you want answers?" He said, raising his voice. "So do I and everyone else is this city!" He started to pace back and forth. "A man goes crazy in the market. Everyone knows he's a forsworn agent. Guards do nothing; nothing but clean up the mess!"
"The Forsworn?" Arminius questioned. The Breton stopped, and looked at him like he was mad.
"You've never heard of the Forsworn?" He came up and grasped at Arminius' shoulder plates. "They were the Reachmen here so many years ago, until they were driven from Markarth. Now they are out for blood in Markarth!" Arminius pushed him off, but he continued. "All these years and I have never been able to figure out why the guards do nothing."
"Get to the point," Arminius said. "What are you asking of me?"
"Please, find out why that woman was attacked, who's behind Weylin and the forsworn, and I'll pay you for any information you bring me." Arminius stood there pondering.
I was raised to be a good Samaritan, and now those limits were being tested. He said that the Forsworn and 'Weylin' have been terrorizing this city for years; what's an Imperial soldier going to do?
"Fine," Arminius said, even though reluctant on answering. But first he needed what this man already knew. "What do you know of that girl that was attacked?"
"She's an outsider, everyone here could smell it," he replied. "You should see her at the Temple of Dibella, that's where they usually take injured or sick."
"What about that man that tried to kill her? Weylin, was it?"
"Yes, Weylin; he was one of the smelter workers. I used to have a job down there myself, casting silver ingots. I never knew much about Weylin, except that he lives in the Warrens, like every worker."
"What are the Warrens?"
"A place where the sick and poor live. It's a complete filth hole."
"I'll get to it, just make sure that coin is ready."
I was too young to be getting into something as reckless as an investigation on a conspiracy. In fact, I should've left that city then and reported to General Tullius; but something about me made me stay and face the danger of this 'Forsworn.' Plus, I felt that a little extra gold wouldn't do harm.
Arminius walked into the calming environment of the Temple of Dibella. There was a structure erected in the middle; four sides with steps and in the very middle a bowl with some glowing water in it. On four corners, there were golden colored Dibella statues, each outlining her feminine form.
A priestess walked up to him.
"Excuse me," She said. "What are you doing here in the Temple of Dibella?"
"There was a woman who was stabbed," Arminius said. "I'm here to see her; is she okay?"
"So it was you who saved her?" The priestess said. "The wound would've been way worse if you haven't stepped along; our healing was able to mend the muscle, bone and the lung back together along with replenishing her blood levels. It will leave a scar though, and it will hurt for the next week or so."
"Good, good," Arminius looked around. "Where is she?" The priestess pointed to the area behind him. He turned in the direction and saw her lying on a thin bed, her chest area wrapped in bandaging, and just from her back side, he saw the red splotch on it.
"Make sure she doesn't move very much, or she might open up the wound again," The Priestess said.
Arminius nodded to her, "Thank you," then approached the lying form of the girl. He looked over her for one second, her eyes opening slowly to his shadow over her. She was of Nordic decent, but her essence felt something along the lines of Cyrodiil. He knelt down to her level and spoke to her softly.
"Hey," he said. "Are you okay?" She blinked.
"It hurts," She said, in an equally soft voice, "But I'll be okay. Thank you for saving my life."
"What's your name?" He asked.
"Margaret," she replied.
"Margaret," he repeated. "Lovely name; where are you from?"
"From Cyrodiil, I was going to buy this for my sister to take back to her," she held up an amulet, made out of silver and a sapphire in the middle. "But I think you should have it, as a token of my gratitude." She held it out to him, and reluctantly he took it and put it around his neck for the time being.
"Thank you, it's very nice," he said, Margaret smiling warmly. "I hate to press more questions but, do you know why that man attacked you?" She shook her head no. "Did you know who he was, or that he was part of the Forsworn?" She shook her head no again.
My first day hearing of the Forsworn and they already have a bad reputation for murder and attempted murder. I probably wouldn't have thought of them as human, or Mer, but maybe as a spawn of Draemora disguised as mortals. Margaret has never heard of this before, and so she fell victim to it
"That's okay," He said, standing up. "I'll let you rest." He turned to walk off but was stopped suddenly.
"Wait," she called. He turned to her with a raised eyebrow and approached her again, going back down to her level. "You're an Imperial soldier, right?"
"Yes."
"Then I should just come clean then," she said. "I was sent here by General Tullius as an undercover operative to investigate the Silver-Blood family and their involvement with this Forsworn."
"You're an operative?" He asked, surprised. "I wouldn't have guessed; maybe you could help me out."
"I'm not supposed to tell anyone, not even other Imperial soldiers, but I don't really look fit to continue my investigation," she held out a key. "I was able to pickpocket this key from Weylin so I can enter his room in the Warrens and try to find any evidence of his involvement; that's probably why he attacked me." Arminius took the key and looked down at it. "Now that he's out of the way, you should search his room."
"Thanks."
The Warrens was almost like a trash dump. There was debris everywhere, chunks of the wall on the ground and such. The lighting provided came from several camp fires out of waste on the ground.
Arminius approached a man in ragged clothing and who was backed up against the wall. He turned and looked at him, his face growing grim.
"The Warrens isn't a place for your type, Imperial," he said. "What do you want?"
"Did you know Weylin?" Arminius asked. The man's face lightened.
"Oh yes, I know everyone who lives down in the Warrens; kind of the one who passes the keys around."
"Where is his room?" The man pointed down to the very end of the hall.
"Last door on the right." He answered.
"Thank you," and Arminius went down. He passed a sick woman who was holding her stomach on the ground.
What's with this place? Not even Cyrodiil had a low class that lived this badly; at least not where they are battered down and sick. It makes me wonder about this Silver-Blood family.
He reached the door, like the rest it was made out of Dwarven metal, and had carvings and designs that had the Dwemer properties. He found the key hold and used the key to unlock it, then put force into pushing the door open. The door was being slowed down by a patch of dirt at the bottom of the door, but his training in the Legion had helped him push through it. He slid in, and looked around; a bed in place, a light on the night-stand, the floor was just the same dirt with the chunks of stone all over it. In the corner on his left, he saw a chest and thought that this was the best place to look. He opened it and searched through it, retrieving a piece of paper that was folded and the sticky patch to hold it together was torn.
He opened it up and read what it said.
Weylin
You have been chosen to strike fear into the hearts of the Nords. Go to the market tomorrow. You will know what to do.
~N
Weylin was definitely caught up in something; this letter proved it no doubt. But who is this 'N'?
When he walked out, he was confronted by a brute looking mercenary with an awkward haircut.
"You've been digging around where you don't belong," he began to approach him. Arminius back up with his hands in front of him.
"Woah, hold on," he said. The man, for some reason, held on for a second, while Arminius got his chest plate armor off down to just his tunic. He then raised his fists in front of him.
"Okay tough guy," he said, "Let's see what you can do." The man laughed at him, he was smaller and he didn't even have his armor. He went at him, swinging a punch.
The one thing that advanced training in the Legion gives me is how best to fight an opponent when out of formation; but that was taught with weapons. Here I am with my bare hands trying to take on a guy twice my size. Good thing, the training can be applied to both armed and unarmed, and even for my young age, I've been in a few bar fights.
Arminius ducked; dodging the attack, then dodged several more.
"Take it like a man!" The brute yelled, trying to land a harder punch. Arminius dodged again, this time using his lightweight to roll behind him and give him a quick jab at the bend of his leg. The punch brought him down to his knee, and the man pounded the ground in frustration.
"You son of a…" He shot back up, trying to give yet another punch at him. The scuffle now drew a crowd of people beckoning either side on how to fight.
The most important thing that a lightweight like me is to avoid each attack, taking some light punches at him along the way. Eventually he'll wear himself out, and I can go in for some hard punches.
Eventually, the man threw one final punch before bending over and holding himself at his knees, panting heavily. Arminius went in for several side swipes to the face, his head getting knocked back and forth with each hit. He even delivered some blows to the stomach region before using his knee to uppercut the man in the face. He knocked back, flying back first to the ground.
The now grounded man groaned, rubbing his face as he dizzied. The crowd that was drawn around him now we're talking about the surprising victory.
"Do you believe that? An Imperial kid just took down Dryston!" he heard someone say. Arminius caught his breath, and walked over to pick up his armor and put it back on quickly. Dryston, as the people called him, was still on the ground dizzy.
We Imperials may look weak, but if it's necessary, we can sure pack a punch.
Arminius knelt down to him.
"Alright Mohawk," he said, bringing out the sarcastic wit that he doesn't normally show. "Tell me who sent you." Dryston groaned again, ribbing his eyes.
"It was uhh…Nepos…Nepos the Nose, you…milk drinker…" he said. Arminius chuckled at him talking.
"Well it doesn't really seem like you're in a position to be making insults to me like that," Arminius said. "Oh and milk is pretty good, though I do prefer mead."
"…Fuck you…" Dryston said. Arminius nodded, a grin on his face.
"Okay then," he said, patting Dryston on the cheek mockingly. "Thanks for the help."
Arminius had asked around for Nepos' house, and he was lead to one of the doors that were one one of the higher levels. He decided that knocking would be pretty useless for a Dwarven Metal door, so he pushed it open and walked in, shutting it behind him. He was approached by a pretty young Nord or Breton girl who had displeasure on her face.
"Excuse me," she said. "What's your business here?"
"I'm here to see Nepos," Arminius replied. "I was told that he lives here." She crossed her arms.
"We haven't been expecting you and the old man needs his rest. Come back some other time." Suddenly, a voice, old and worn, called from around the corner.
"Wait," it said. "It's okay my dear, send him in." The girl scoffed.
"Yes, Nepos," she said, moving out of Arminius' way. "You heard him, go on in." He turned the corner to see an old man reading a book in front of a fire place. When he approached him, he noticed why he was named 'The Nose,' because of how big and pointy his nose was. Arminius had to contain his laughter.
"I'm sorry about my housekeeper," he said. "She's a little protective of me. Now what is it you want?" Arminius grew serious again.
"I know about Weylin," he said. The old man turned the page.
"Ah yes, you've proven to be a real bloodhound. Well, you've sniffed me out," He closed the book and looked directly into the fire. "I've been playing this game for almost twenty years; sending the young to their deaths, all in the name of the Forsworn. And I'm tired, so tired." Arminius stepped closer to him.
"Why?" He asked.
"Because my king told me to; Madanach. When the uprising fell at the hands of the Nords, they threw him in the mines." Nepos looked up at him. "I don't know how, but he lives. I get his messages, and I hand out his orders without question."
"Why are you telling me all this?" Nepos laughed lightly.
"My dear boy, what makes you think you're getting out of here alive?" Arminius stepped back for a second, surprised at the threat. "The girl at the door is a Forsworn agent masquerading as a maid." Arminius looked up to see that the girl he met a little bit ago was standing there and staring at him creepily; the two other 'maids', had joined beside her. "You're not the first one to have gotten this far, you won't be the last." He got up with them, and they all began to approach him slowly.
Arminius, laughing nervously, backed up to the wall with his hands raised.
"Hey hey, can't we just work this out? Have a nice, healthy conversation over some mead and I can agree never to speak about this with anyone? I mean I don't even need to be here, I need to report to General Tullius and all…" The moment he felt a pot on the table behind him, he grabbed for the edge and flung it at them. "Have a treat, asswipes." He immediately turned and delivered a hard punch directly to Nepos, breaking his big ugly nose and knocking him out. He immediately grabbed Nepos' fallen form and pushed him into the other three who had now fallen over.
Arminius then flung the chair that Nepos was sitting in at them, then a couple of pieces of firewood, tipped over a barrel, and swung himself behind them, sliding across the table and knocking several things over in time to dodge the magic attacks they had gotten off. He hid behind the table, and would throw over some more stuff at them. He drew his sword when one of them came over and tried to swipe at him. He blocked, swatting away the attack and driving his sword straight into his chest.
He then used him as a meat shield and pushed his way over to the other two, where he kicked them off and again threw him into the others. He sliced at the girl's leg, and then once at the other man's throat. The girl fell to the floor holding her leg, in crying out in pain, and the other man's neck squirted blood and fell to the floor dead. Arminius, in a fit of anger, used his armored foot to finish off the girl, stomping her face down to the stone floor.
He panted, and stopped to look at the mess he had made.
"Shit…" he said. "I did that, I killed them."
It was self-defense of course, but I had killed them in such a brutal way.
Arminius looked down and saw that he had blood on him, which would be a scary sight when coming out of the house and into the street. He found a cloth and wiped himself off.
"I should tell that man what I had found and get out of here," he said to himself.
He eventually made his way to the Shrine of Talos again, but found that the Breton wasn't in there. Instead there were three guards, and they drew their swords.
"Hey hey, what happened to the stuff I left here? My shield, my canteen, my sack?" He said loudly.
"You just had to go and cause so much trouble," he said. Arminius looked at him in confusion. "Now we have to pin all these recent murders on you, silence witnesses, work work work."
"Wait a minute," Arminius said. "What did you do to that one guy?"
"Same thing we do to all the other natives who want to change things around here," the guard said. "We had a nice little deal going between Thonar and Madanach until you and Eltrys started snooping around." The guards approached him, Arminius backing up until he ran into the chest of another large guard. "Well, you wanted to find the man responsible for those killings? You'll have plenty of time with the king in rags when you're in Cidhna mine."
"I'm under arrest?!" Arminius yelled, as the guard behind him forced him to the ground and tightly binded his hands behind his back. "Gyah! Don't tie it so hard!" He was pulled back up, and the other guards stripped the sword and its sheath off of him. "Hey I need that in good condition, don't scratch it!"
"Shut up, Imperial."
At one point, Arminius found himself in ragged clothing; the kind that prisoners would wear. He was going through a checkpoint, where he was facing an Orc woman in Steel armor.
"All right prisoner, eyes front!" She said. "You're in Cidhna Mine now, and we expect you to earn your keep. There's no resting your hide in a cell in this prison. Here you work; you'll mine ore until you start puking up silver bars. You got it!?" Arminius chuckled a little.
"I'm sorry, I'm a little deaf in this ear," She answered him with a powerful punch to the stomach, sending him to the ground. He groaned badly, feeling upchuck rising to his throat. She grabbed the back of his head and dragged him to the gate leading into the mining area.
"Open her up!" She called to the guard. The iron bar gate suddenly opened and she threw him inside, shutting the door behind him as he lay there. He eventually got up on all four and puked on the wood.
Now I was in Cidhna mine, and I would remain here for the next six months. The 'debt' that I had to pay off was just them saying that I will be out soon, but in reality they weren't at all planning on letting anyone of us out.
Pretty long chapter, but I had fun writing it. I'll be doing more of Arminius in prison in the next chapter and everything that happens during it.
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