Teren 'Sai bowed to Grace and Erica in turn, never taking his eyes off the group. As Grace moved back there was a creaking sound from the gatehouse parapets, the sound of several bowstrings being relaxed.
"The Dragonborn's Oath are hired as auxiliary guards to serve as the front line of defence should the College ever come under attack again." Casimir said for the benefit of the newcomers. "They're very capable men- or rather, Argonians, the entire force are Argonian. Used to be-"
"Cutthroats, rapists and murderers." Teren 'Sai cut him off. "When the Archmage first recruited Argonian guards almost two centuries ago, she recruited from prisons and bandit camps. Took in the worst scum of our kind. I can't say why, though knowing her, perhaps she sought to give them a chance at redemption. She needed a way to ensure their loyalty, so she organised them into ranks and aimed to turn them into an order steeped in tradition. The last Dragonborn was used to this effect. He was a legendary Argonian warrior, and one of the greatest heroes of our people It is his statue that you saw before the gatehouse. Legend had it that he swore an oath to protect this College even in death. Aside from the good pay, the bandits were actually more than pleased to be viewed as heroes like him. They took up his name, his armour, and learned to use the bow and sword as he did They called themselves the Dragonborn's Oath, and developed into a near religious vigil over the college. Today, few of us are descended from those original servants of the Oath, most having been drawn from elsewhere by our story, but all of us uphold the Dragonborn's promise to defend this castle as long as it needs to be defended."
"Fanatics." Septus muttered under his breath. Despite this Teren 'Sai heard him and fixed his gaze on him.
"Fanatics? We undoubtedly are, Septus Varon. But tell me, who is it that benefits from our fanaticism?"
