The Last Dragonborn

Chapter 13

Happy Reading!

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I hated parties in general, but the one at the Thalmor embassy had been the worst. The actual mission from Daphnie seemed easy enough. Pretend to be a guest, sneak away from the party, get evidence that the Thalmor were somehow responsible for the dragons, and get out without anyone realizing who I was or that I was ever there. To our knowledge, the Thalmor didn't know who I was yet, and I didn't see a reason to advertise.

The plan looked fairly simple on paper, but that wasn't how things worked out. I made it inside easily enough. The ridiculous party outfit Delphine insisted I wore helped me blend in even when I came face to face with Elenwen. She didn't recognize me as either the Dragonborn, Guildmaster, or a member of the Companions, all of which would have required some fast talking on my part. Thankfully neither did any of the other party guests either, save one.

Seeing Maven Blackbriar had been a surprise. For her part, the head of the Blackbriar family of Riften had only arched a brow at my presence and continued on. She had close ties with The Guild and no doubt assumed I was there on official Guild business. She wouldn't interfere, she enjoyed our mutually beneficial business arrangement far too much to cause me trouble.

I managed to find a man I was able to bribe with a drink to cause enough of a distraction for me to slip away. Malborn helped me sneak through the kitchens and left me with the supplies I had sent ahead with him. Changing quickly into my armor in the backroom, I strapped my weapons into place and slid deeper into the embassy.

The plan had been to sneak around the embassy, find what I needed, and sneak out undetected. Unfortunately, things hadn't gone according to plan and my blades were covered in blood and I had left a sizable body count behind me by the time I found Elenwen's office.

I was tired and waiting for the last health potion I had taken to kick in and begin healing my broken ribs. I dug through the desk, my heart still pounding in my ears. I hadn't snuck enough healing potions in with me and I needed to move before I was found by yet another guard. I had lost count of the number I had killed, but I couldn't find it in me to feel bad. They were Thalmor.

I sat down at the desk and lifted out several files. The file on top was about the Thalmor investigation of the dragons. I tucked it in into my pouch and lifted out three dossiers. One was on Delphine, one on a man named Esbern and I froze as the last had Ulfric Stormcloak written on the top. They weren't what I was after, but I scooped them up anyway and headed to the stairs. I could hear the guards closing in quickly. I couldn't fight the entire embassy. I had already killed a dozen soldiers. Instead, I fled through the dungeons.

I dropped through a hidden trap door with the help of a man who knew whoever this Esbern was everyone was so excited about. I freed him and Malborn before the Thalmor could torture them. Regardless of their history, no one deserved to be left in Thalmor hands. We fled down into the caves beneath the embassy. I heard a growl of a Frost troll and the prisoner took off, leaving us behind. So much for being grateful.

I didn't bother fighting, not when Malborn was defenseless. Instead I shoved him in front of me and took off running. I honestly didn't have another fight in me and I needed to put further distance between myself and any possible enemies. Chances were good the Thalmor would be giving chase sooner rather than later. When we emerged from the caves the other prisoner was already long gone.

"I-" Malborn started to stammer, looking around wildly. "You saved me," he said in shock.

"You helped me," I told him.

He frowned like my words weren't making sense. It said a lot about the type of life he lived, that he expected me to leave him behind. I didn't have much I could spare since I left all of my normal gear with Delphine, but I dug into my coin purse and I handed him a handful of coin.