Treads-Heavily shifted his stiffened limbs as he leaned back into the alleyway. Watching the wall and gate, keeping watch for the assassin. He'd been standing in the shadows for most of the day, looking for anyone paying a little too much attention to the guards along the wall. So far all he'd seen were three Skooma addicts and one sleeping guard.
Well this is useless, the assassin's been here for days he's probably planned his assault by now. Or decided the coin wasn't worth risking getting killed by the Thalmor and risk the wrath of the brotherhood. He was having doubts about his sudden conclusion that the assassin was working for the Thalmor. A coincidence was possible but unlikely considering the circumstances.
It was then, as Treads-Heavily was preparing to search elsewhere that he heard a great deal of shouting from the castle. Did the assassin go after someone in the castle? The count? Or the local Legate? By the eight I'm an idiot!
Treads-Heavily dashed from the shadows of the alley, shedding the traveling cloak he'd been using to conceal himself. Maybe if he got there soon enough he could plead his case to the Imperials and "talk" with the assassin before they beheaded him. He pulled the strapping holding his shield to his back taught to stop it from flopping on his back, clanging against his breastplate. The yelling was getting louder and there was something else, fighting?
Treads-Heavily rounded a corner into harsh white light coming from dozens of small stars floating just above the rooftops. He could see the castle, figures of soldiers rushing around but something was very wrong, the bridges were down. Then he saw them, silhouette of his kin rising from the edge of the river into the city. It took him a moment to realize that Argonian mercenaries were invading from the river.
Arrows were flying from the walls of the castle, thinning their numbers to only several climbing up at a time. But most were able to climb up with at least one arrow embedded in their flesh, Treads-Heavily recognized the signs of Hist sap.
The siege's already started, and with the Legion's soldiers stranded on the other side of the river the city will fall in a couple hours. If the assassin was ever here he's gone by now and I'll be dead if I don't do the same. He turned to make a run for the Inn to retrieve his belonging before fleeing the city, that's when he saw the two small children huddled together trying to hide from the fighting that was coming.
He saw their clothes, dirty but not ragged, refugees from Leyawiin that were either living in the camp or on the streets. The camp, all those people were probably going to be dead soon. The mercenaries wouldn't leave many alive and he knew his kin. Many would be taken as slaves and any children too small, people too old or weak for labor would be killed.
There are some guards on this side of the river. A voice in his head told him. The Imperials will have a way over the river, they just need time. He looked to the river, his kin were less than a hundred yards from him now, still few in number but that wouldn't last long.
"Damn it to Oblivion." He cursed, unbuckling his shield from his back and drawing his sword, the elven grip growing hot in his gauntleted hand as a light flame engulfed the blade. "By the eight if I live through this they'd better give me some information on where that damned assassin is."
He brought up his shield, sword pointing forward as he made is may toward the few charging down the street. The first was charging straight towards him, howling with blood-lust brought on by the sap with another only a few steps behind him. Both wielding small weapons and light armor as to aid in their watery assault on the city.
When the first was only a few strides away Treads-Heavily planted his feet, bracing his shield to catch the charging mercenary. The maddened Argonian paid little heed to the weapon, choosing to throw all his momentum into Treads-Heavily trying to break his defenses. At the last moment he shifted his back foot and thrust his shield forward, taking the impact at an angle and stunning the assailant sending him tumbling to the ground.
The first dealt with for now he rushed the second, catching him off guard as he crashed into the steel wall. Treads-Heavily made a quick thrust for his chest, trying to end the fight before the first attacker could join in but he managed to stumble out of the way. Not wanting to give him time to recover he pressed the offensive, stepping forward and slashing low. Catching the Argonian mercenary in the upper leg, severing the muscle causing him to stumble to one knee. Then a final thrust piercing his heart, the mercenary let out a single grunt accompanied by a sizzling from the blade before going limp.
Treads-Heavily gave a quick jerk on the blade freeing it from the body before turning to face the first attacker. He was just regaining his footing as Treads-Heavily charged him, making a quick chop at his neck that nearly severed his head from his shoulders, blood gushing out onto the ground.
He turned to face the next threat, apparently one of the other mercenaries recognized him as a threat and had gathered a small group of five to attack him. Looking for a way to escape he saw a narrow alley that ran between two large buildings, if he could draw them there he could engage them one at a time.
"You shame Sithis with your cowardice!" He shouted at them in his native tongue. They started coming quicker, hurling insults of their own as he drew them into the alley.
"Come on you Imperial bastards, get out of that castle already." he said finally backing into the alley as they broke rank only a dozen paces away and charged.
