An Enchanting Tale

Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

"Markarth was built upon the dwemer city of Nchuand-Zel," Brelyna stated.

"I am unfamiliar with a great deal of Skyrim, including Markarth," S'maash admitted.

"It has a very colorful history. From the Forsworn attacks to the Silver-Bloods taking over after Ulfric's uprising, this city seems to be under perpetual change, yet inside the walls of stone, the people remain unchanged. A most perplexing place...."

"With Cidhna mine, to boot," Zolara added.

"The mine," S'maash asked.

"It's where they send prisoners to mine silver. They mine to serve out their sentence," Brelyna answered.

"It is hard to imagine the nords built a long standing society over dwemer ruins," S'maash mused.

"The nords are a surprisingly resilient people," Brelyna countered.

"They have to be to survive these frozen lands," Zolara remarked.

The dark elves detected a negative connotation, but held their tongues as they looked at Zolara. He shrugged in reply.

"So, how do we get into Nchuand-Zel," the wizard asked.

"Follow me," Brelyna said and took the lead.

As they entered the city, S'maash was awestruck by the stonework. All the buildings were clearly of dwemer of design. He assumed the city itself was Nchuand-Zel. For a second, he stood, lost in amazement.

Brelyna walked around the Silver-Blood Inn to the backside of Markarth. S'maash followed her, but kept gaping at the phenomenal design. Then, he noticed the beautiful cascade of water; the city was built around a waterfall, which poured from the mountains.

The sound of smithing prevailed. Steel smashing steel rang against the stone city, tying into the chatter of citizens. While Brelyna proceeded up the steps, towards Understone Keep, the young elf strained to listen to merchants, patrons, and warriors.

Since the sun was setting, casting an orange radiance overhead, the light reflected off the dwemer doors adorning all the buildings. The scintillating luminescence was mesmerizing. Seeing so many people milling through a dwemer city was an odd sight to behold; S'maash felt as though transported back to a time when the dwarves thrived.

Brelyna approached a guard standing watch. He wore the same fur-lined, quilted armor as most of Skyrim's guard; his face masked by the full helmet. Their conversation drew him back to reality.

"I used to be an adventurer like you. Then, I took an arrow in the knee," the guard said.

"Sorry to hear that...we're just seeking entry to Understone Keep," Brelyna said.

"Sure, sure, go right in, but be mindful in front of the Jarl."

The three travelers entered the ancient bastion. A familiar sound pulsated, dwemer, steam machinery. S'maash gazed at the statues of dwarven spheres, recalling his trip through Damlzthur. There was another automaton, too, something enormous with sword and hammer, which he did not recognize.

Brelyna had moved off to the left of the keep, towards some rubble. He followed behind her, still in a daze. She stopped inside a large chamber where a mer was conducting some experiments with dwemer automatons.

"Greetings, Aicantar," Brelyna said.

The mer turned with a smile, revealing he was an altmer in purple robes. "Ah Brelyna, you've brought guests," he asked, wiping his hands.