The Ivory Lord : A Hero Born , V . 2 Content . The sound of clanking armor and approaching footsteps echoed through the dark streets . It was obvious that the marchers didn ' t care if they were heard . In fact , it sounded like they were trying to make more noise than was necessary . Erric Deleyn closed his eyes and listened . He tried to count how many armor - clad boots were pounding toward them . Not that the numbers mattered . If there were two Alessians or ten , Erric knew it would how this was going to end . " Someone ' s going to stick a blade right through my head , " he thought . Erric felt a hand touch his shoulder and he opened his eyes . Calinden , the mercenary Ayleid knight with the long - flowing golden hair squeezed his shoulder reassuringly . " Stick close to me , " Calinden said . A sense of calm came over Erric as he nodded in response . It was as if the Ayleid knight knew exactly what Erric was thinking . Erric would have taken more comfort in that thought if the sounds of the footsteps weren ' t getting closer and louder . Kish ' na , a Khajiit i warrior on Erric ' s other side , pulled two blades from their sheaths and held one up . She wanted them to hold for her signal . The other mercenaries in the alley shifted back and forth , excitement and fear shining in their eyes as they waited for the order to attack . More steps . Louder . Louder . And then silence . Erric looked around in surprise . Why had the unseen marchers stopped ? The rest of the mercenary band seemed as confused as he was . Except for Kish ' na and Calinden . Kish ' na ' s raised blade did not move . Erric would later learn that what happened next is what usually happens when you hire people willing to stab other people with swords and daggers . The mercenaries grow impatient and become eager to spill blood so they can collect their gold . Usually , this break in discipline brings such hired soldiers to their end that much quicker . And , unfortunately , it was Erric ' s group that broke first . " Kill those bastards ! " The yell rang out from someone behind and to the left of where Erric was standing . Suddenly they were rushing forward , more a tangled mass than a fighting formation . Erric was pushed to the side as weapon waving mercenaries shoved past him . " What are those idiots doing ? " Kish ' na demanded as the mercenaries left the cover of the alley . She shook her head in frustration but run out after them , her twin blades drawn and ready . Calinden turned to Erric . " Remember what I said . " And with that , the Elf pulled the large blade from the sheath on his back and ran to join the fray . Erric felt panic overwhelm him and he stood frozen in place . The clang of weapons and shield . The roars of battle . The screams of pain . Everything sounded muffled to Erric ' s ears . His feet felt stuck to the cobbled street . The war had arrived , and Erric could only watch it unfold before him . After an eternity that really only lasted a few seconds , Erric was finally able to move . He lifted one foot and placed in front of the other . Slowly , deliberately , he repeated this action until he reached the edge of the alley wall . Erric took a steadying breath . Then he peered around the wall .