Chapter One
Disrupted Quiet
Thagor was all too aware that he was not getting any younger, the signs were very clear as he hauled himself to his feet from the ground, splintered wood scattered around him. He shook his head, his mane of greying shoulder length hair swaying in the bitter north wind, trying to bring his senses back to catch up on him. Having just been booted through the door of the Dead Man's Drink, it was clear that Thagors mood was turning as rapidly sour as the day was unpleasant. The ringing in his ear lessened and the pain in the small of his back and chest subsided a little, allowing him to inhale quickly and speak towards the doorway. "I'll say again Pervian" he worked to keep his voice steady and nerves calm. "Come forward and answer for yer crimes as a good man and I reckon you'll avoid the block for sure". He took a step forward, his eyes narrowing at the shadows within the building. "Or you can try yer hand at blasting me through a damned door again, a path I strongly advise against". Thagor was not really a man built for words, a quiet man most his days, keeping communication brief and curt with people, more a man of action but as he had been advised by the Jarl of Falkreath that this situation may require a more subtle approach, he decided the best course of action to try his best at talking this lunatic down before he hurt anyone severely. A voice from the shadows, rasping like a rusted sword on a stone wall answered Thagors warning. "The old man thinks it's got me good" the voice hissed, "thinks it's got Pervian backed against a wall now, no, no not at all, Pervian too clever for the old man." Thagors nose wrinkled at these words, though he was aware that he was getting on in years and all too familiar to hear himself being called "Old Man", it still bristled his beard when he heard it aloud, especially from this swine hiding in the dark just now. "Pervian!" Thagor barked "Get yer arse out here now and I give you my word I'll not beat you down until you're a wee puddle in the ground, am trying to be fair here but my patience is ending hastily". A screech of anger emitted, that horrible rasping breathy voice "You'll not take Pervian back, no, no! He knows, he knows the fates of those in the mines, to die, die! DIE! No light. No warmth. Stench. Dust. All rotted like bodies, bodies we are and bodies we IS!" A flash of fire shot out from the door way, many yelled and ducked in fright as it struck Thagor on the shoulder, knocking him back and igniting his cotton shirt, he had seen no true enough danger to don his armour and cursed his own laziness to the core, slapping out the small flames quickly with a pained grunt, that wound would surely sting this night. Once the flames has been extinguished, Thagor grunted a low guttural sound and very suddenly bounded for the doorway, thrusting left shoulder out he charged straight into Pervian, who out of shock let his guard down and appeared out of thin air, as his invisibility spell dwindled away. Hissing, the black and red Khajit made a swipe at Thagors back, drawing blood from three long scratches that made Thagor huff in pain, turning on heel and using the momentum of the charge Thagor lifted Pervian clean off the ground and brought him down upon a table, the legs cracking and giving way from the sheer force of the blow. Pervian screeched and hissed in pain, recoiling as he landed and rolling out from Thagors boot, which was coming down to meet Pervians face at an alarmingly violent rate, narrowly missing his skull by inches, a dull thud as Thagors boot made contact with the stone ground. "I gave you fair warning Pervian" growled Thagor as he grabbed Pervians tail as he attempted to crawl away, pulling him back into his grip Thagor picked him to his feet and delivered a punch to Pervians left cheek that rocked him off balance and into the wall, sliding down in a whine of pain he covered his face for a second punch but received none, slowly looking up he saw Thagor standing over him, green eyes blazing purpose and teeth bared in anger, yet he made no move. "Pervian Venroth", the quiet ferocity of Thagors voice made him flinch a little, "By order of Jarl Siddgeir, I am to bring you back the Cidhna Mines of Markarth, where you will spend the rest of your days answering for your crimes against Skyrim and its people, those which include thievery, assault and murder of the first degree on a Guard of Whiterun whilst on duty. Should you attempt to deny or resist in the handing out of this sentence, I am obliged and by now damned willing to put you down once and for all, do you understand?" Thagor expected objections, he expected anger and even a possible attack, what he did not expect was for Pervian to nod dumbly, seeming to have lost all words within him and sag with defeat. Thagor nodded and looked outside, gesturing to three of Falkreaths Guards to come in and clap the chains on the Khajit before he found his wits again. He stood outside and inhaled deeply, enjoying the slow quiet of the North Wind on his face, cooling his brow and wiping the beads of sweat from his skin. Thinking on it, the weather was not warm enough to merit sweating of any sorts, yet here he was with a sheen upon his brow, swaying gently as he stood, then it hit him and damned once again he cursed his own foolishness. "The scratch" he called to a guard close to him "I've been scra…scratched by…" He stumbled his words and felt a sudden weakness in his legs, sinking to his knees and coughing up a spittle of blood the guard rushed forward to assist Thagor "Damn, get a healer quick! Thagors been poisoned, he should…." That was the last thing Thagor heard before unconsciousness took him in its full embrace. "Damned fool" he told himself as he sank into darkness, "Pervian the Poisoner...Damned...old...fool"…..
