Ani glanced over the random blacksmith, and sighed her agreement.  "Very well.  We take him."  She turned her gaze on him.  "Unless you prefer that we simply kill you."<br/><br/>She stood aside as a group of Reach soldiers marched for the large gate.  She watched them as they were permitted to leave the city.  Civilians and travelers were roughly pushed aside and held at the point of a sword, forbidden to leave.  The Jarl seemed like a foolish man, locking his people inside the walls.  Markarth was built into a mountain, true enough, and could withstand a heavy attack.  But, it was not impenetrable.  And once the Stormcloaks broke into the city, the civilians would be easy prey.<br/><br/>She doubted that the Nords in Markarth would be harmed, unless they were foolish enough to help a non-human or otherwise protest the invasion.  But the dozens of elves and other creatures would be slaughtered - if not arrested for worse fates.  Her desire to remain in the city was gone completely, and her patience was thin.<br/><br/>"We should leave now," she said.  "Show us your secret path, Ilya."