Azeron leaned on the wooden rail exhaled slowly in the morning chill. His attention held fast on the six occupying the cobblestone road that ringed the settlement. An dark skinned Imperial woman, flanked by two soldiers stood before an Altmer, one of the Thalmor, likewise flanked by by two of her own. He could taste the tension in the air. But in this standoff, the advantage was clear. While the Imperials stood on the road, the Thalmor agent sat on horseback. The Imperials wore nicked and worn leather and steel, the Thalmor a pristine black and gold robe while her guards stood vigilant in gold elven craft armor.<br/><br/>The Thalmor's presence was to be expected though. A mere day after Azeron had arrived in the fort town of Helgen, word had rang out from the walls that a rider had come with news that Ulfric Stormcloak, leader of the rebellion against the Empire in Skyrim had been captured. Though, it wasn't really the Empire they rebelled against. It was the Dominion that now ruled it. It was the Thalmor.<br/><br/>The Elven emissary on her horse spoke down at the Imperial woman. Azeron was too far to hear what was being said, but the message remained clear. The emissary wouldn't waste words with the lowly Imperial officer. The sneer on her lips and her raised nose made that clear enough. The two Altmer in armor, the emissaries bodyguards, looked equally displeased with the situation. The man and woman stood idly by, being the good lapdogs that they were. Azeron noted, curiously, that the woman wore no shield, despite the blade at her waste being for the use of one hand.<br/><br/><span style="color: Sienna">Damn Thalmor...</span>The Nord, a harsh looking man in an iron breast plate muttered beside Azeron. The Dunmer shot him only a brief sidelong glance before returning his attention to the exchange on the road.<br/><br/>The Imperial woman's voice raised, and her tone carried a harsh bite. The Thalmor looked down at her from the horseback and said something. She was exercising her authority, and was apparently making a point to the commander who stiffened. The Thalmor relaxed on the horse and smirked, the battle having been won. The Imperial woman turned on her heel and shouted<span style="color: DarkOliveGreen">Come on!</span>to the two guards flanking her.<br/><br/>Azeron and the Nord watched her storm past, no doubt heading to the headsman's block just around the bend.<span style="color: Sienna">Hmph. Damn elves think they can just walk in here and give us orders.</span>The Nord muttered again and spat. Azeron looked at him, and he looked back with an poorly veiled contempt.<br/><br/>Azeron knew it was time to leave. He walked down the house's wooden steps and set off down the road in the same direction as the Imperial commander. He glanced back at the Thalmor briefly. She was talking down to the elf at her right, the woman without a shield. Whatever was said looked to have upset her. It was probably an order to remain in Helgen to oversee the executions to come. No respectable Thalmor would be caught dead in a dreary Human settlement for long. That's what their dogs were for.<br/><br/>The courtyard of Helgen was already getting busy. Or at least, as busy as a place like Helgen could be. Other than the garrison, there was only a meager half dozen other people who called the fort home. And half of them worked the Inn who's stairs Azeron now climbed. The Nord Innkeep and his wife were out on the porch, as was their small boy who sat on the steps. His attention seemed fixed on the executioner who waited at the courtyard's center, holding the long headsman's axe aloft.<br/><br/>Azeron opened the door to the inn and started through.<span style="color: DarkOliveGreen">Not going to watch the executions? The caravan can't be far now.</span>The Innkeep's wife asked.<br/><br/><span style="color: Red">No.</span>Azeron answered shortly and stepped inside. He was greeted by the fire burning along the hearth. He sat down before it and leaned back in the old wooden chair, resting his boots on the furs laid out on the inn's wooden floor.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>