The Cyrodiilic Chronicles
Chapter 1
"Hello?" an Argonian shouted as he got up from his bed, "Anyone there?" He reached for his Thieves Dagger when he was suddenly tapped on the neck." Who's there!?" he demanded as he spun around to find the room was empty. He tightened his grip on the dagger as he edged toward the door. He froze when he heard the creaking of the floor behind him. He spun around once more to find an empty room before him. "Show yourself, Coward!" he screamed. Then someone started knocking on his door.
"Hey quiet down in there," the innkeeper yelled through the door, "some of us are trying to sleep" The inn fell silent for a while until a shriek was heard from downstairs. The Argonian grabbed his bow and arrows and carefully proceeded downstairs.
"You there stop!" the Argonian shouted at the man coming out of the trap door near the entrance. He leapt for the door but he was not fast enough and within a heartbeat he was pinned to the door with an arrow. As the Argonian crept closer he could see that he was a dark elf and also that his fangs were dripping blood. "A Vampire eh?" he said in surprise, "So you were the one in my room."
"Yeah." he replied in pain " What's it to ya?"
" Oh, no reason I just wanted to offer you a choice." the Argonian said easily, "I can offer you, a cure. You would like that, wouldn't you? No more sucking blood. No more sneaking around at night, and your really going to like this one, going out in daylight."
"Yeah right," he said in disbelief, "I happen to know that if I want that I would need to join the mages guild and get five grand soul gems."
"Oh yeah," the Argonian said reaching into his pocket, "Like these?" He took out sixteen of most magnificent soul gems anyone had ever seen. "If you want I could spare some for your cause."
"Really you'd do that for me?" he said in amazement, "That's ama--. Wait a minute? What's the catch? Do I have to turn you into a vampire first; do I have to kill someone? Or do those gems cost an extremely outrageous price?"
"Ok there's a catch, but it's not what you think." the Argonian said, "All that I ask is that you join me and my pirate crew."
"Sure, but do I get to kill anyone?" the vampire asked
" Certainly." the Argonian agreed, "what's a pirate crew without a little bloodshed. "By the way my name is Spike, and you are?"
"Crimson," he said calmly, "Now I don't mean to be rude or anything but you seem to have impaled me, and I would very much like for you to get me off of this door before I decide to take it out myself, and kill that innkeeper." Spike turned around and looked at the innkeeper who was currently giving the vampire angry looks.
"Okay, now this might sting a little." Spike said as he prepared to remove the arrow the old fashioned way. "Remember if you change your mind just say, ok. Now in three! two! one!" and with a gut wrenching yelp the arrow was removed from Crimson's left shoulder, and Crimson fell to his knees. "C'mon, we'd better go." Spike said reaching for Crimson 's hand. When Crimson grabbed his hand his shoulder seemed to glow and with a puff of smoke the wound along with the pain was gone.
"Oh an assassin and a mage? I can see you will be a worthy ally in the future." Crimson said as he stood up.
" As your first officially mission you must rob this place and leave no casualties, you got me?" Spike whispered, " I'll be waiting outside on my horse." Spike waited a few minutes until he heard several gasps and muffled demands, there was some clinking, and some begging shortly followed after by a large thud. The door swung open and Crimson walked out with a large bag hung over his shoulder. He walked up and climbed on the back of his horse.
"I met the requirements now lets go." Crimson said.
As they arrived early in the morning Crimson was impatiently waiting until they got to the ship. " I don't think that I've been quite honest with you" Spike confessed.
"There's no ship is there? Oh god now I'm going to burn to death in the morning sun, perfect." Crimson groaned in frustration
" Oh no there's a ship it just... not at the docks. So we're going to take another path, and don't worry we will be inside. They arrived at anvil castle just in time, as they got inside they were suddenly stopped by the guards.
"Stop, you violated the law, pay the court a fine, or serve your sentence. Your stolen goods are now forfeit." one guard yelled.
" And what does he owe you guys?" Spike asked
" Actually since he is a vampire he must be executed immediately." another guard replied.
"You turned me in to the guards!" Crimson shouted before he was muffled by Spike's hand.
"Well you don't need to worry because I was just passing by to get an Elven arrow to do away with him." Spike lied.
"Ok but the law requires us to escort you to your destination." Said the first guard. When they had gotten to the smith the guards left. There was a moment of silence.
"C'mon we'd better get going before those guards come back." Spike said quietly. They walked through the halls for a while until they came to a dead end.
"Now what?" Crimson asked "Are you going to kill me now?"
"Nope, In fact I'd like to say that you passed" Spike said happily. Crimson stood there clueless for a moment.
"Passed what?" he asked.
"Proving your loyalty to me even in a life or death situation means that you have passed my trust test." Spike replied, "Now help me with this pillar." They pulled on the pillar carved in the wall for a few seconds and then it finally budged and when it came out the wall plunged down revealing a secret passageway. "After you."
"So where am I going now?" Crimson asked.
"Just take a left here." Spike instructed. They reached a small door at the end of the passage. as they went though Crimson lit up a torch to find that he was no longer in the castle but underneath it.
"Please tell me that we're here." Crimson groaned impatiently.
"Its not too far." Spike said as he jumped into a pool of shin deep water. As they went through a second door Crimson's face was stunned in amazement.