Athelle stood with an expressionless mask throughout the whole exchange, Geralt's interrogation methods far more physical than normal Thalmor protocol. They usually electrocuted their prisoners to submission, but sometimes such methods had to be adapted, and in this case it seemed to be the best way to go about it, whatever way one looked at the situation, it would be bloody. He looked over to Sophie, noting she watched with no problems, her hatred for Vampires must have ran strong. he have her a smile and a slight wink, before focusing on the matter at hand.
Athelle's ears rung with the mention of the Mythic Dawn- They were as much of an enemy to the Thalmor as they were to the Empire- more so considering it was the Aldmeri Dominion who claimed to have stopped the Oblivion crisis, and never had they expected anything bad to come of such a... Twisting of events. If the dawn had sleeper agents within Thalmor ranks, then perhaps they wanted revenge? Or simply found the ranks of the Thalmor an easy place to hide, due to the reclusive and secluded nature of the organization.
He gave a pained look to Velaco, wincing at the fact he was a Vampires Thrall- It must have been a fairly recent slavery, as the last time Athelle had... seen the Altmer up close, he did not have such a brand on his wrist, infact, he had no marks at all, no fang marks, signs of indoctrination. So the Vampire must have been close.
His face bore a deep frown, his two perfect eyebrows dipping into a scowl, at the mention of Delos... Athelle had always noticed something odd about him, he was far grimmer than his fellows, and seldom partook in celebration, or fun of any kind for that matter, he was quiet and solitary, often meeting up with "Friends" at night. Athelle had never thought anything of it, he was a fair and kind man, he didn't want to keep constant surveillance over his best men, otherwise how could they trust him? But now he realized maybe a bit of watching now and then wouldn't have gone unnwanted.
Nodding to Geralt, he turned "Don't try to interrogate Delos, he is a Darkblade, so attempting to pull any authority over his eyes is impossible... Well, yours at-least, he will listen to me whether he wishes to or not. Just be careful, if he is a Member of this cult, then he is a dangerous man with a far more deadly blade." Athelle lead them out of the prisons, and into the tower, one wing in particular belonged to the Darkblades, it was luxuriously furnished and filled with their every need. Most of the elite were in the mess-hall, enjoying a meal before their afternoon assignment, and as usual, only Delos was absent. Most likely in his room. The men (and women) stood to attention when Athelle entered, but his allowed them to sit down almost immediately.
"Have you seen Delos?" he asked one of them, smiling widely.
"Indeed, he's in his room writing a letter or something, and preparing for this afternoon or something."
"Thank you." Athelle winked, and gestured for the Vampire hunters to follow him to the Darkblade's room.
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"As i've said before Heinrich, I'm writing a book. I need to visit as many places as i can to get a real feel of the Nordic people, because back in Daggerfall, there weren't many of your kind, none, if I can remember correctly, apart from old Hols, but he was always in jail for being drunk." Anna said in a mildly irritated tone, rolling her eyes in a blink. She had been walking a while, and the bottom of her robes were splattered with the odd mud stain. Her heeled boots clicked gently on the stone path as they walked through the wilderness, keeping to the roads. Anna's steps were gentle, soft, and light, making relatively little noise, apart from the distinct click, and the tap of her wooden staff.... But quiet could not describe the heavily armoured thud that echoed from behind her.
Traveling with her was a large, huge man, a brute even by Nordic standards. His hair was braided back, and his beard just starting to grow, it, like his hair was golden blonde. His eyes were a piercing light blue, of a colour only the Nords seemed able to attain, unlike the soft browny-green Anna's eyes possessed. Heinrich thudded along in steel-plated armour, glimmering in the sunlight, his boots crashing with the ground every broad step he took. Anna had hired him to accompany her in the wilderness, Mostly because he knew the area a lot better than she did, and he offered a very reasonable sum for his companionship. He'd saved her hide from bandit attacks and Highwaymen before the threat had even made itself apparent, and had never took much notice to the strange patterns, and symbol of her faith around ehr neck- he wasn't the most clever man, but in Skyrim, knowledge of the Daedra was associated with the Mages... who weren't thought of with much love. He was, however, interested in the young Breton's reasons for travelling around Skyrim: She didn't seem like the adventuring type, but he knew as well as anyone else, looks can be deceiving.
"I know, i know, I'm just curious. It's nice to know your companion, even if you are just hired help." Heinrich said in his deep, gruff voice. "Never told me what you do anyway, you just a book writer then?" He asked.
Anna laughed a little, dropping back to walk beside him. "Well, mostly yeah. I've been up and down the provinces to various places, Elsweyr, Hammerfall, but I know Cyrodiil and High Rock much better than any other land. Most people have heard of me down in the Imperial city, and back up in my hometown, I've written a number of books about the various races, and factions around. Did a book on Breton history that really set me up as an author, and I've just worked it out from there. I find it best to write about things I have come into contact, hence my trip around Skyrim." Her face lit up with a smile.
Heinrich returned the smile and replied "You wrote that book about them Blades didn't 'ya? Read that once when I was in Bruma... Bit's i could understand anyway." Heinrich bellowed with a Hoarse laugh.
Anna couldn't help but laugh at Heinrich's laugh, and so the pair of them giggled merrily as they strode down the path, the weather soon turning snowy as they entered Eastmarch. Anna had started off in Riften, but found nothing of Nordic culture there, other than the degenerating condition of it's rich residents, and it's suffering citizens. One thing that it did teach her however, was that Nords could do business, and quite well at that.
"Heinrich, i forgot the name of that City again.. Ysgrammor was it?" Anna asked, pulling her hood up to keep the icy wind out of her face.
Heinrich chuckled a little, and replied "No, no. Ysgrammor was the King who built the city, not the City's name. It's called Windhelm."
"Ah, now i remember, home of that Palace of Kings, and the Stormcloak rebellion. It has a Grey Quarter doesn't it? for the Dark Elf refugees?"
"Aye lass, that it does... horrible place, them Stormcloaks treat the Elves with such cruelty, well, they do anyone who isn't human, and the nastiest will bully you for simply not being a Nord. Dangerous place now Ulfric announced himself High King." Heinrich replied with a frown.
Anna took mental note, the words of her companion sinking into her mind, firmly there for good. It was one of the gifts bore by her lord, Hermaeus Mora. She wondered why there was such racism in Skyrim, indeed the elves and the Nords fought many battles in the past, but in recent years things had cooled down. Apparently not in Windhelm. She thought.
But before Anna could reply, Heinrich pushed her to the ground, and cried "Arrow Volley! Get down!!" He lifted his shield up to protect himself, and Anna lay on the ground with a ward out in front of her, the arrows bouncing off. She jumped to her feet when the Bandits advanced quickly upon them, her staff at the ready. The nearest bandit, she sprayed a bout of Poison at his face, the acidic stream burning his skin, and killing him fairly quickly.
Heinrich cleaved with his war axe viscously at a number of them, tearing flesh and severing bone with heavy, brutal strokes. Five of them were cut down with little effort, but soon a few more joined the fray, trying to combat the incredibly strong man they were faced with. Again, the majority fell, until only two of them remained. The first was a sneaky wood elf, who remained unseen by Heinrich before it was too late, he circled around the Nord, and jabbed his blade up through the back of his rib-cage, piercing his furiously beating heart. Heinrich gasped, falling to his knees.
"Heinrich!" Anna lamented, her staff swinging, a large, green tentacle extending from it's head, the slimly green limb wrapped around the wood elf's throat, and pulled tightly. The little elf choked as his face reddened, gargling noises and flapping hands encompassed his movements. Anna didn't let go until the elf was dead, flicking the tentacle back within her staff, and spinning on the spot, the wooden weapon smacking the last remaining Bandit violently in the face, snapping his nose. Anna finished him off with a Thunderbolt,. and ran over to Heinrich.
Her delicate, long-nailed hands cradled his head as she bent her knees beneath her, and put Heinrich's head on her lap. she furiously felt around her satchel for her healing potions, quickly grasping the neck of a bottle and pulling it out, tearing out the cork, and tipping the mixture down Heinrich's throat. It did nothing much, only numbed his pain.
Anna gave one last look to the small grave she had just filled in on the side of the road, looking down in sadness at her lost companion. She took his shield and used it as a makeshift headstone, writing his names in large letters across it. With a final sigh, she turned to face the wind, heading down to Windhelm.
The Guards gave Anna a strange look as she walked up the main gates of the city, her eyes darting around at the buildings around her. As she walked, a Burly-looking man with blood on his hands barged his way past, followed by his companion. The heavy push he gave the breton sent her falling to knees, and she sighed in surprise as she hit the floor, her delicate hands catching her before her face hit.