For the next few hours, we scouted the fort, counting forces and looking for entry points. There were only two ways to enter the fort, and both involved travelling along the road. The stone walls had been repaired and sealed with mortar, their sides too flush for climbing without attracting attention. Atop the walls strolled bandit guards, their bodies clad in rough furs and gleaming studs. Even those who were Imperial soldiers were disguised as bandits, though their rigid stances and organized patrols gave them away. All told, there were at least seventeen armed men, comprised of many races but all with the same gaunt, hunted look about them.
When we at last completed our observations, the last of the sun's rays glimmered on the horizon. Derkeethus and I crouched behind the escarpment, exposed to the northern sea winds. Huddling under our cloaks, we watched the distant mountain for any sign of Hrollod and his company.
"Maybe we should go back to that shell of a building. At least it'll be warm there," my friend grumbled, shivering.
"No! No. I don't want to go back there. Not if we can help it. Not even if it was a matter of life and death, I snapped, memories of that man nailed to the table surfaced unbidden. A grim understanding filtered through my mind from the Argonian and he wrapped his cloak about him tighter; as if to ward away such dark thoughts. After a while, freezing sitting on the snowy ground as I was, I leaned against Derk for warmth and comfort. Eventually, I insinuated myself between his out-stretched legs. In this way we sat, cloaks wrapped around each other as the shadows deepened.
The skies were nearly dark when the aurora bloomed red and gold curtains of light. Under the undulating glow, I spotted a small group of figures marching in our direction. Derkeethus, with his stronger night vision, let out a quiet sigh of relief. "It's them. Finally." With a little stumbling, we untangled ourselves to stand in the bitter cold. Pins and needles shot through my legs as I searched the ground for something I could burn. I found a frozen bone caked in dried skin from some forgotten carcass. It would do. Sacrificing several sheets of vellum, I slathered them in deer fat that I warmed in my hands. With a strike of my sword along a stone, I lit the bone and held its yellow, fitful flame aloft.
Slowly the tiny figures advanced across the valley towards our island in the deep snows. Behind us, faint voices rode on the air whenever the wind shifted in just the right direction. Pale against his armor, Hrollod waved an arm at us and cupped his hands to his mouth as if to shout. Emphatically I shook my head, drawing my hand across my neck in a fervent gesture. A tree cracked loudly nearby and the sound reverberated throughout the valley.
"Just a tree, Mikael. Quit being such a coward," said a tinny voice on the wind from the direction of the fort. As Hrollod approached ever closer, I saw understanding in his expression. With a motion, the Thalmor mage cast a glowing spell that coated the company's boots. The deep footsteps they were leaving in the snow faded and the jangling of armor, weapons, and buckles diminished into a near-silent jingle.
"Took you long enough," complained the Argonian. Standing in that blustery wind had not been pleasant for either of us. My arm felt stiff from holding the makeshift torch.
"Jovial as always, I see," spoke Hrollod, his expression lightening upon recognizing us. The conglomeration of Imperial and Thalmor soldiers gathered around my flickering beacon, and Tormir clung to Hrollod's side. Something in her expression seemed off--suspicious. I couldn't quite place what precisely I was seeing. "What have you seen? And do you still have the Phial?" the legate asked, breaking my thoughts.
I took out the fragile bottle and waggled it gently, listening to its contents slosh before hooking it back onto my belt. "The only way to enter the fort is by the road, which is barricaded and heavily guarded. Openings in the wall enter into a shallow yard," I explained, using the tip of an arrow to draw a diagram into the snow. "An inn sits in the middle. Here. Across from a larger archway leading to a deeper courtyard flanked by two towers. Just under a score are scattered about outside. I have no idea how many may be inside the towers, or where Constantius is."
"Couldn't we scale the walls? Any weaknesses we could use?"
"There are none," I sighed, "No access from the rocks. No cellars connected to the outside. No mislaid ladders or ropes."
"We'll have no choice but to enter from the road directly," Derkeethus added, his eyes hardening. "We're going to need a distraction."
Hrollod's gaze bored into the eyes of the Thalmor. "Can you do this?"
The soldier who chaperoned us across Hjaalmarch bristled, and her mouth opened to no doubt spit out a scathing retort. A firm hand from the mage stilled her, and her mouth shut in a taught line of distaste. "We will do as you ask, if only to accelerate this ridiculous mission so that we might return unharmed," he said, each word spoken slowly and carefully as one might taste a fine wine.
"No, I'll do it," declared Tormir.
"Absolutely not," snapped Hrollod.
"And why not?"
"What could you possibly do that wouldn't result in getting yourself killed?"
"I have a bag of powder from Sondas that will cause a flash and daze them."
"That won't be enough. You're staying outside the fort to heal us when the assault is done," the legate commanded, his tone brooking no argument. Tormir's expression turned black and with a shriek she launched herself at me, clawing at my armor.
"What are you doing!" I cried, trying to push her off of me. In a flash, she leapt to her feet, her hand clutching something small, white, and glassy. Then, swift as a deer, she sprinted away into the darkness, making a beeline for Fort Dunstad. "The Phial!" I crowed.
"By Ysmir, no," Hrollod groaned before gathering his wits and shouting, "After her! Don't let her make it to the fort!"
As one we scrambled after the Nord, our feet plunging deep into the snow as we tore through the pines. Derk and I mounted our horses, galloping after her, I with my torch still held high. We were slowed considerably by the depth of the soft ground, for our horses' hooves sank to the bottom while the others ran lightly on the surface.
"Gwaihen!" called the voice of the legate behind me. I slowed to match his pace.
"What? I need to catch Tormir! She'll ruin everything!" I shouted over the wind, which thankfully blew in our faces, pulling our voices away from the fort.
"Nevermind that! We can't catch her now. I want you and Derkeethus to act as rear guard. We're charging now!"
"What about the distraction?"
"That's why I want you behind us. We'll be the distraction. You'll go after Tormir," he commanded.
"But where is she going? How does she know where she's going?" I asked.
"I've been to Fort Dunstad before! Years ago. We went over the plans on the way over here. Hrefna is probably being held in the prison--the tallest tower. That's where she's going!" At this I nodded, and spurred Nael on, whose nose was bleeding profusely once more. "Gwaihen!" Annoyed, I turned back to glare at the officer. "Bring back my wife and daughter."
"If we can," I murmured to myself. Letting out a shrill whistle, I motioned Derkeethus over to me and explained our orders.
"Good," he said, grinning with satisfaction, "Let the grunts get maimed while you and I traipse up a tower filled with who knows what. I just hope Hrefna is still alive."
"We'll finally get to find out, my friend," I smiled at the thought of at last rescuing the girl. Yet, I wasn't entirely sure if my joy was perhaps misplaced. There was a fierce hunger in me to see Constantius destroyed, and I felt no qualms in wanting to be the first to reach the top. To be the one to sink my blade into his flesh and watch the light die out of his eyes. I wanted to be the last thing he ever saw, and my father's name to be the last words he heard.
Then I remembered the little girl and the Imperial on the table, and felt guilty. In actuality, I felt downright sick and disgusted with myself. I should be happy to be saving her. I shouldn't be so gleeful to kill someone. This was wrong. The guilt, however, was not enough to overwhelm the desire for revenge. For completion. There was no controlling the dragon's power surging through my blood now.
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