Balanced On the Knife Edge

Chapter 7

Hieronymus Lex had seen a lot in his time as captain of the city watch. He'd apprehended a vendor who was poisoning his competition, he'd quelled a horde of goblins who attempted to invade the city through the sewers, and he'd watched the Thieves' Guild grow in power, looming out of the shadows, threatening the honest, hard-working citizens who called the Imperial City home.

But never had he seen anything like this.

Over the horizon, a band of ten skeletons approached the gates. They had tried all manner of attacks: arrows, catapults, spells. Nothing could stop them. Even when broken apart into dozens of pieces, the foul necromancy that powered them drew the bones together, repaired the damage and sent the skeleton lurching forward once more.

A barricade had been set up at the end of the bridge leading into the city, and a troop of the finest guards had been mustered. But how could they defeat that which does not die? Hieronymus looked on with a grim mien, weighing up different options, trying to figure a way out of this mess. Nobody spoke, and the eerie wails and creaks of the skeletons grew steadily louder as they approached.

Hieronymus saw movement in the trees a few metres away from the skeletons. He rubbed his eyes, wondering if fatigue had gotten to him. But no, there was... a person? A man draped in a dark cloak strode forward, parallel to the skeletons.

"Halt, in the name of the emperor!" Hieronymus cried.

The figure either didn't hear, or chose to ignore him. A few seconds later, he held up his hands, indicating he held no weapon. I'm not that foolish, Hieronymus thought. He was likely controlling the skeletons.

"You three," he said, addressing the guards nearest to him. "Go and apprehend that man. Bring him here."

They looked at the captain with horror. "But Sir, the skeletons..."

"Are not attacking him. So they won't attack you, either."

It was a gamble. Either this man had information for them, or he was the necromancer responsible for the undead soldiers, in which case they might be able to negotiate.

The guards moved timidly forward, stopping every few seconds to make sure a skeleton hadn't snuck up on them. But true to Hieronymus's word, they stayed in their group, ignoring the men. They took the cloaked man's arms and marched him quickly behind the barricade. He was thrust on his knees before Hieronymus, and his hood pulled back to reveal an Altmer with thinning blond hair.

"Who are you?" Hieronymus demanded.

"I am Landil Aelsinor. A humble mage from the Summerset Isles. I come bringing information about these creatures."

Hieronymus grit his teeth. This could all be a diversion, but what choice did he have?

"Alright. Stand up and tell me what you have to say."

"They are undead Akaviri soldiers, come to retrieve an amulet that belonged to their master. The Amulet of Bonebreath, it is called."

The Archmage had said that it was likely an artefact of power drawing the skeletons to the city. Hieronymus hated to admit it, but he had been right.

"And this amulet is in the city?"

"I believe so. It acts as a homing beacon, drawing the soldiers towards it."

Hieronymus eyed the man suspiciously. Clearly he knew more than he was letting on.

"Why? And who owns this amulet?"

"Why? I am not sure. I have various theories..."

Hieronymus gazed severely at him, and he did not elaborate.