Ignem Tristitia (An Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Prequel) [ON HOLD]

Chapter One - Fight

"Now, then," the Thalmor commander said. "You five. Here. Now."

Star slowly approached the officer, everyone following behind her. "Yes?" she asked casually.

"Come with me," he replied sternly. "Immediately."

"No," Star refused.

The Thalmor didn't know how to react. "Yes!" he ordered.

"I said," Star said, crossing her arms. "No."

"Do you wish to be a cold green corpse lying in the streets?" he asked angrily.

"Yes, I believe I'd thoroughly enjoy that," Star said sarcastically, turning and looking at the rest of the group. "Wouldn't you guys?"

"Ah, yes," Lumak said.

"I do," Duvrus joined.

"Indeed," Maurdesh nodded.

"Most certainly!" Veezare smiled.

"Very well," the officer reached a decision. "Guards! Kill them!"

Three soldiers standing at the side of the commander stepped forward, a sword in one hand, a spell in the other.

"Perfect," Veezare said. "One for each of us."

The mercenaries and the Thalmor stared deep into the eyes of their opponents. Then one guard yelled and charged for Duvrus.

His blade ripped through the air, speeding at Duvrus' neck. Duvrus quickly raised his sword, countering the blow. Duvrus lunged at the guard, jabbing the sword at his chest. The Thalmor jumped back; the attack missed. He raised his left hand and fire exploded from his fingertips. Duvrus pulled up his arm, curling his shield in front of his face. The metal barrier held back the flames, the heat nearly boiling Duvrus, cringing behind the shield. The fire sucked back into the Thalmor's hand, into a swirling orb of orange heat.

"You're a decent fighter," the guard complimented competitively.

"Same for you," Duvrus said.

"Enough talk, Smaldi," the officer said firmly. "Kill him."

"Why can't we just attack them all, one-on-one?" the guard, Smaldi, asked. "Why do I have to this guy, then everyone else-"

Duvrus saw his chance and took it. He threw his sword at the Thalmor. It flew through the air and sank into his chest, shredding though the armor and blowing through his entire torso. The point of the blade emerged from the back of the armor. The Thalmor gasped and crumbled onto the ground. Duvrus stormed over and grabbed the leather hilt of his sword, yanking it from the corpse of the guard.

"You! Chadil! The orc!" ordered the leader. "Do not fail as Smaldi has."

Chadil nervously approached Lumak, raising his sword shakily. "You... surrender!"

"Surrender? Hah! Never," laughed Lumak derisively.

"Don't m-m-make me k-k-k-kill you!" Chadil stuttered. "I w-will!"

Lumak hurled his fist at Chadil, his thick green knuckles colliding with the young guard's nose. He flew backward, tumbling into the Thalmor leader.

"Get up, you stupid, foolish-" the guard pushed him angrily. "Get up!"

Chadil made no movements as blood gushed from his nose, flowing down his face and pooling in his around his clavicle.

"Seriously? That killed him?" Lumak scoffed. "Wow. Your team is frighteningly pathetic."

"Scandric!" the leader yelled exasperatedly. "The argonian."

A brute of an elf stepped forward, popping his knuckles. He unsheathed two elven swords, stretching his arms out to the fullest extent his elbows allowed. He walked right up to Veezare. He was nearly a foot taller than him.